Dover, Del. (Mar. 21, 2012) --- Delaware State managed just five hits, while committing three errors and walking eight batters in a 9-2 loss to Towson at Soldier Field this afternoon.
The Hornets lost for the second time in three games to fall to 12-9-1 this season. The Tigers won their fourth straight to improve to 10-9.
Brandon Gonnella and Kurt Wertz drove in two runs each, while Ryne Willard had three hits in five at bats to lead the Tigers' 12-hit attack.
Towson opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Ben Winter led off the game with a walk and later scored on a two-out single by Brendan Butler.
The Tigers stretched their lead with two runs in the second inning. The rally began when Mike Draper singled with two outs and the bases empty. Willard followed with a single to put Towson runners on third and first. After Winter was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Gonnella singled in Draper and Willard to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Delaware State got on the board in the fifth inning. Peter Broehl was walked to lead off the inning, and sacrificed to second on a bunt by DJ Miller. Troy Drummond followed with a single to left that was bobbled in the outfield, allowing Broehl to score the Hornets' first run. The bases were loaded when Ryan Haas drew a walk from Towson reliever Paul Beers to bring in DSU's second run. Beers prevented further damage by the Hornets when he struck out Eddie Sorondo and retired Aaron Nardone on a ground out with the bases full.
Towson, aided by three Delaware State errors, scored four runs without a hit in the seventh inning to open up a 7-2 lead.
The Tigers closed out the scoring with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Starter Mike Ryan (1-0) pitched three shutout innings to earn the win for Towson. Ryan allowed two hits and struck out three. DSU starter Elliott Gardner (2-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing six hits and three runs in three innings.
The Hornets return to MEAC play with a three-game series at UMES this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday (12:00 pm) and a single game on Sunday (1:00 p.m.).
