Towson, Md. (Apr. 11, 2012) --- Delaware State cut a six-run deficit to two and loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but could not complete the comeback in an 8-6 loss to Towson at Schuerholz Park this afternoon.
The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Hornets, who fell to 18-14-1. The Tigers, who swept two games from DSU this season, improved to 17-16.
Towson led 8-2 before Delaware State scored three times without benefit of a hit in the top of the eighth inning to cut the deficit in half.
Cameron Cecil and Ryan Haas were each hit by pitches from different Towson relievers to lead off the eighth for the Hornets. The next batter, Eddie Sorondo, was walked to load the bases. JP Frey was at the plate for DSU when Towson reliever Mike Bronakoski uncorked a wild pitch to score Cecil with the Hornets' third run of the game. Frey flew out to center field; but Haas scored on the play to cut the Tigers' lead to 8-4. Peter Broehl followed with another sacrifice fly to score Sorondo, pulling the Hornets' to within 8-5.
After Towson failed to score in the bottom of the eighth, DSU came to bat in the ninth trailing by three.
Troy Drummond and Scott Davis were each hit by pitches from Towson reliever Scott Austin to lead off the Hornet ninth. Cecil popped up to short for the first out of the inning. Haas followed with a single to right field to score Drummond, cutting the Tigers' lead to 8-6. The next batter, Sorondo, was also hit by an Austin pitch to load the bases with one out. Austin then put out the fire by retiring Frey on a liner to right field and Broehl on a fly ball to center to end the game.
Delaware State, which leads all NCAA Div. I teams with 84 hit batters this season (2.5 pg), was hit five times in the contest.
The Hornets opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Davis had a one-out single to start the rally. He advanced to second on a single by Cecil and scored when Haas followed with a single to left.
Towson tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first inning, and pulled ahead with four runs in the third. Kurtis Voytell had a two-run double and Peter Bowles singled in two runs for the Tigers in the third.
Delaware State trailed 6-1 when Tony Gatto singled in JP Frey with the Hornets' second run in the fifth inning.
Davis, Cecil, Haas and Frey had two hits each for Delaware State. Bowles was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in for the Tigers.
Delaware State starter Bobby Brown (1-1) was the losing pitcher. He allowed five hits and six runs, although just two were earned, in five innings.
Starter Nick Cioffi (1-0) was the winning pitcher for Towson. He gave up seven hits and two runs, while striking out three in five innings.
The Hornets return to MEAC action with a three game series at Coppin State this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday.
