DOVER (March 29, 2009) ? Led by senior Justin Bittner and junior Abe Eubank, the Delaware State Baseball Team (10-11-1, 2-1 MEAC) shut down the UMES Hawks (6-21, 4-2 MEAC), 8-1, to take the weekend series (2-1) on Sunday, March 29 at Soldier Field. Bittner pitched five no-hit innings and Eubank drove in two runs as the Hornets improved to 2-1 in conference play.
Bittner, who made his fifth start of the season, allowed no hits through five innings of action to improve his record to 3-0 on the year. Bittner had some control issues, walking four UMES batters and hitting two but, kept the Hawks from crossing home plate. On the day, Bittner struck out five and improved his ERA to 3.43 this season.
The Hornets used three different pitcher in the game, combining for a one-run, six-hit outing. Freshman Jordan Elliott came out of the bull pen in the sixth inning, allowing no runs on two hits in two innings of relief. Brandon Penick closed out the game, giving up one run on four hits while striking out three in two innings pitched.
Offensively, the Hornets were led by Eubank, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI. The 6-foot-3 first baseman improved his batting average to .370 following the three-hit performance. Also driving in two runs was Bittner, who went 1-for-3 and scored a run. Senior Jared Lineweaver hit 2-for-2 on the day, including his second double of the season with two runs scored. The Georgetown, Del., native reached base safely in each of his four plate appearances two hits, two walks) and recorded two stolen bases. For the series, Lineweaver batted 1.000 (4-for-4) and recorded a perfect on-base percentage, reaching safely in every plate appearance this weekend (12-for-12).
Mike Rizzuto (1-for-2) and Jose Sanchez (1-for-4) each crossed home plate on Sunday.
UMES' Karim Gonzalez suffered his fourth loss of the season, giving up six runs on six hits while walking seven batters in four and one-third innings of action.
The Hawks were held to six hits as Phil Vaughn drove in the team's only run with an RBI single in the top of the ninth.
UMES threatened early in the top of the first, loading the bases after Bittner struggled to hit his spots. The right-hander walked two batters and hit a third to load the bases with just one out. However, Bittner got out of the jam following a ground out and a strike out to end the inning.
For the second-straight contest, Delaware State came out strong in its half of the first inning, putting up four runs on three hits. Bittner drove in two run on a bloop-single down the left-field line with the bases loaded. During the next at-bat, Ross Babineaux increased DSU's lead to 3-0 with an RBI single up the middle. Eubank drove in the fourth run of the inning, grounding out to third.
DSU added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. An RBI double by Rizzuto scored the Hornets' first run of the inning. A passed ball by catcher Ben Vasko gave Rizzuto the opportunity cross the plate for DSU's sixth run of the game.
Two more runs came in during the sixth inning as RBI singles by Eubank and Warren Stimpson extended Delaware State's lead to eight runs.
The Hawks got on the board in the top of the ninth to prevent the shut out, scoring on an RBI single by Vaughn.
For the weekend, DSU hit .380 versus UMES, seven Hornets batting .400-or-better. Delaware State drove 26 runs, scoring 28 times for the series win. The DSU pitching staff registered a 1.80 ERA with 29 strikeouts and holding the Hawks to a .229 batting average.
Delaware State will travel to Newark, Del., to face the Delaware Blue Hens on Wednesday, April 1. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
