THE RUNDOWN
Friday afternoon, DBU (12-10, 2-2) fell to Delaware (10-12, 1-3) by a score of 5-4 in the series opener.
Dylan Cupp recorded a game-high three base hits and drove in two runs in the effort.
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Cupp led off the game with a single to right center, but would be erased on the base paths on a double play. Delaware's Ryan McLaughlin faced the minimum in the top of the first.
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The Blue Hens drew the first blood of the weekend as Evan Bouldin launched a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the first.
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The Patriots were sat down in order in the top of the second, before
Russ Smith stranded Matthew Minckler on first base in a scoreless bottom half.
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In the top of the third,
Ryan Martin,
Keaton Grady, and
Adam Berghult loaded the bases to lead off the inning, before
Dylan Cupp rolled into a double play, scoring Martin, to tie the game at one.
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Russ Smith tossed a one-two-three bottom half, preserving the 1-1 tie after three innings.
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The Blue Hens would break the tie in the bottom of the fourth, as LT Cockrill hit a lead-taking solo homer over the left field wall. Harry Carr followed up the big fly with a triple before scoring on a throwing error later in the inning.
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In the top of the fifth,
Cooper Neville led off the inning with a walk, before back-to-back fielder's choices put
Keaton Grady on first base. Grady would swipe second and would later come around to score on
Dylan Cupp's second base hit of the game.
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Evan Bouldin and Vincent Davis led off the bottom of the fifth with consecutive singles, as Bouldin came around to score on a double play. After five innings, DBU trailed 4-2.
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Matthew Minckler added to the Blue Hen lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, pushing Delaware's lead to three.
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Dylan Cupp's third hit of the afternoon was a double to right-center, which drove home
Ryan Martin.
JT Long tossed a one-two-three seventh, keeping the DBU deficit at two runs.
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With one out in the top of the eighth, the Patriots added on to their momentum as
Chayton Krauss launched his seventh homer of the campaign, a solo shot to left field, bringing DBU within one.
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Armani Knipper inherited two baserunners with nobody out in the bottom of the eighth and escaped unharmed, keeping the Patriots' comeback hopes alive.
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In the top of the ninth, Delaware's Ryan Pugh tossed a one-two-three inning as the Blue Hens claimed the series opener.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Chayton Krauss hit his 38th career home run today, and is now eighth all-time in program history.
- Patriot pitching kept Delaware's 1-2 hitters in the batting order hitless today.
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Ryan Martin's seventh-inning single was his 25th hit of the season.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.400 -
Cooper Neville's team-leading batting average currently rests at an even .400.
190Â -
Chayton Krauss collected his 190th career hit and is now 10 shy of 200.
4 - For just the fifth time this season, the Patriots were limited to four or fewer free passes (three walks, one hit by pitch today).
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ON DECK
The Patriots continue their weekend set with the Blue Hens on Saturday afternoon. First pitch in Newark is scheduled for 1:05 CST.
