PHILADELPHIA – Chris McLean hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to give the Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (12-11, 3-3 CACC) a come-from-behind 9-8 victory over USciences on Wednesday.
 
GAMEPLAY
The Rams found themselves in a 5-0 hole in the third after the Devils drew a bases-loaded walk followed by a grand slam. Jefferson got two runs back in the bottom half on a pair of two-out RBI singles by Zack Austin and Arturo Figueroa. Both teams launched a two-run homer in the fourth and the score was 7-4.
 
In the fifth, the Rams cut the deficit to two (7-5) after Austin came home on Figueroa's groundout. However, USciences recorded an RBI double in the sixth to restore a three-run advantage (8-5).
 
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Efrain Santiago drew a walk and Alex Gonzalez followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Vince Barone then laced a two-run double to left center to get Jefferson within one. After a Josh Lopez base hit put runners on the corners, Austin lifted a sacrifice fly to left to plate Barone and tie the game at eight.
 
Matt Bukavich came in to pitch the ninth for the Rams and retired the Devils in order to set up a potential walk-off victory for Jefferson. McLean delivered, leading off the frame with a game-winning homer to left center. It was his fifth of the year, which is tied for the team lead.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Efrain Santiago: 1-for-2, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Alex Gonzalez: 2-for-3, 2B, SB, BB, 2 R
- Vince Barone: 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Zack Austin: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R
- Arturo Figueroa: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, SB
- Chris McLean: 3-for-5, 2B, HR
 
NOTES
- The Rams hit a season-high .412 on the day.
- Jefferson won back-to-back games for the sixth time this season.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams host Caldwell for a CACC doubleheader on Saturday, April 2 at 12 p.m.