GATTO PITCHES DELAWARE PAST NORTHEASTERN, 4-3
Rob Washburn
Boxscore | Highlights
WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 21, 2014) – Senior pitcher Dan Gatto threw a complete-game five-hitter as fourth-seeded Delaware rallied for a 4-3 victory over #5 Northeastern in the first game of the 2014 CAA Baseball Championship at Brooks Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Blue Hens (25-25) advance to face top-seeded William & Mary at Noon on Thursday. Northeastern (25-28) will come back at 7 p.m. tonight in an elimination game against the loser of the upcoming contest between #3 UNCW and #6 James Madison.
It was the league-leading third complete game of the season for Gatto, who gave up three runs in the second but didn’t allow a hit after the third inning. He struck out five and walked three while improving his record to 5-6.
Despite Gatto’s effort, the Blue Hens trailed 3-1 after six as Huskies’ starter Chris Carmain had limited UD to just four hits. The Hens trimmed the deficit in the seventh as Ty Warrington and Joe Giacchino reached on back-to-back infield singles with two outs. Shortstop EJ Stoltzfus then came through with an RBI double down the line in left to make it 3-2.
A single to lead off the eighth by second baseman Zach Lopes ended Carmain’s afternoon, and Delaware loaded the bases after Huskies’ reliever Aaron Civale (0-4) surrendered a single to Alex Mottle and walked Jake Clark. Mike Fitzgerald came out of the NU bullpen and got a strikeout, but freshman pinch hitter Nick Liggett delivered a clutch RBI single to left that knotted the contest at 3-3. Warrington followed with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Mottle with the eventual winning run.
Northeastern struck first with three runs on three hits in the top of the second. Brad Burcroff singled to open the frame and came around to score on freshman Cam Hanley’s RBI double down the left-field line. Hanley, who advanced to third on a throwing error, crossed the plate on a groundout by Gabe Levanti. The Huskies made it 3-0 when Josh Treff’s two-out RBI triple into the right-field corner brought home Sean Lyons.
Delaware got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Clark launched a two-out solo homer to left. It was the third home run of the year for the senior first baseman.
Stoltzfus and Mottle both finished 2-for-4 to lead Delaware offensively. Five different Northeastern players had one hit.