PHILADELPHIA – Junior Abraham Almonte (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) tossed Philadelphia University's first no-hitter since 1999 with a dominating nine-strikeout performance in a 7-0 victory over visiting Lincoln University in game two of a non-conference doubleheader Friday afternoon on Ravenhill Field. The Rams took the opener 15-1.

Philadelphia's last no-hitter came back on April 17, 1999—a 3-1 victory over Mercy College in game one of a doubleheader.

Almonte (2-1)—who faced just one hitter over the minimum in the seven-inning game—was on cruise control through the first four innings, retiring the first 12 Lions of the game, seven via strikeout.

Then to lead off the fifth, Edwin Rivera hit a fly ball to deep right field that was dropped by right fielder Fernando Garza (Laredo, Texas/United) for a two-base error and broke up the perfect game bid. However, Almonte was unfazed by the miscue and sat down the next nine Lincoln (2-17) batters in order.

Philadelphia (8-11) wasted no time getting Almonte offensive support with a five-run first inning. Catcher John Brocious (Bellmawr, N.J./Triton) opened the scoring with a two-run home run to left field—his second homer of the day. With the bases loaded and two outs, center fielder Nick Goetz (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) ripped a double into right-center field to clear the bases. Goetz was thrown out attempting to stretch the double into a triple.

A throwing error by Lion pitcher Stephen Smith with two outs in the second extended the Ram advantage to 6-0. With Daniel Klusman (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) at third and Brocious at first, Smith made a very high throw to first in an attempt to pick off Brocious. The ball went out of play, moving each runner up 90 feet.

In the sixth, left fielder Ken McCormick (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) recorded a RBI fielder's choice that scored shortstop Hunter Greenwood.

Philadelphia recorded 10 hits in the win, two each from Brocious and third baseman David McTaggart (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth).

Smith suffered the complete game loss (0-2), striking out two over six innings.

In the opener it was Lincoln drawing first blood with a two-out single to left by Brandon Bolden to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Philadelphia offense came to life over the final four innings, scoring 15 times—including a seven-run fourth—on 13 hits.

With two away in the third, Garza put the Rams in the lead with a two-RBI double to right field and McTaggart tacked on an insurance run with an infield single. A four-run fourth was highlighted by Brocious' first collegiate home run—a two-run shot to left field with two outs.

In the fifth, Philadelphia sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored seven times on five hits and two Lincoln errors. McCormick and Garza had two-run doubles to center and Jake Madnick (Huntington Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) and Brandon Quaranta (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Adington) added RBI singles to left.

Philadelphia's final run came on a sacrifice fly by Axel Rivera in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Stephen Dickerson (Columbus, Ohio/Danbury) was the beneficiary of the run support to record his second win of the season (2-1). He struck out seven, walked none, and gave up one run on six hits in seven innings. Sam Garmoe took the loss (1-3) after allowing six runs on six hits and six walks in 3.2 innings.

Garza led the Rams' 13-hit attack with three hits in four at-bats and five RBI. McCormick was 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Brocious, McTaggart, and Madnick added two hits each.

Philadelphia and Lincoln will finish out their four-game weekend set with two games at Lincoln University on Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m.