March 12, 2004

Box Score

NEWARK, DE - University of Delaware Junior Dave Harden belted two home runs and senior pitcher Mike Mihalik struck out seven in eight innings of work as the University of Delaware baseball team won its eighth-straight game, downing Marist 6-4 Friday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

The Red Foxes (2-8) jumped out to a 2-0 lead a solo home run by Chris Watters in the second and another by Kevin Buck in the top of the fifth. The Hens cut the lead to 2-1 on a sacrifice fly by junior Ryan Graham in the bottom half of the inning and took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Van Note and Harden hit back-to-back home runs.

Marist came back to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth on an RBI groundout by Jimmy Board before Delaware tacked on three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 6-3 lead. Harden's second home run of the game and ninth of the season with two outs in the inning gave the Hens a 4-3 lead before Buber's two-run single upped the lead to 6-3. Marist pushed across a run in the top of the ninth off Delaware reliever Joe Coudon before he struck out Eric Johnson looking to pick up his first save of the season.

Mihalik earned his first win of the season for the Blue Hens, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in eight innings. Jonathan Smith started for Marist and pitched five innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out six. It was his first start of the 2004 season. Peter Fuller suffered the loss in relief, working 2.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on three hits.

Travis Musolf had two base hits and an RBI for Marist at the plate and Buck finished the day 2-2.

The two teams will meet in the second game of this three-game series Saturday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.