PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (18-14, 7-4 CACC) took the opener on a walk-off error and then scored eight runs in the fifth inning of game two to sweep rival Chestnut Hill (13-21, 7-8 CACC) in a conference doubleheader on Friday.
 
GAME ONE – W, 7-6 (10 inn.)
Both teams scored in the opening frame, the Griffins on an RBI double and the Rams via a home run by Josh Lopez. Chestnut Hill scored on a wild pitch in the second but Jefferson answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead. Marquise Wood blasted a lead-off homer, Alex Gonzalez doubled in two runs and Jay Kalieta knocked in a run with a base hit.
 
The Griffins pushed a run across on a groundout in the third before tying it with a two-run single in the fourth. Both sides were scoreless from the fifth through eighth innings, leaving a combined 10 runners on base.
 
Chestnut Hill broke through in the ninth, loading the bases before a hit by pitch brought home the go-ahead run with two outs. However, Kalieta started the bottom of the ninth with a solo shot to left to bring the Rams even once again at six apiece. Jefferson then loaded the bases and the winning run was 90 feet away with just one out but the Griffins picked up a strikeout and a fly out to send the game into extra innings.
 
In the 10^th, Anthony Pillari retired Chestnut Hill in order, setting the stage for the Rams. Justin Espinal drew a lead-off walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Gonzalez. Kalieta was intentionally walked to bring up Gabe Silva. Silva smacked a chopper up the first base side that the pitcher had to field. The Griffins' hurler threw the ball away past first base, allowing Espinal to come around for the winning run.
 
Quick Hits
Jay Kalieta: 2-for-5, HR, BB, 2 RBI
Josh Lopez: 2-for-4, HR, BB
Marquise Wood: 2-for-3, HR, 2 BB
Alex Gonzalez: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Matt Vita: 1-for-3, 2B, SB, R
 
GAME TWO – W, 9-7
Chestnut Hill broke the ice in the third, scoring two runs via a groundout and RBI single. RJ Huth crushed a home run in the fourth then did the same with a two-shot in the fifth to stake the Griffins a 5-0 advantage.
 
However, Jefferson rallied in the bottom of the fifth, exploding for eight runs to take an 8-5 lead. Diego Santiago got it started with a lead-off home run. The Rams had runners on the corners with two outs and an error allowed the inning to continue, with Matt Vita scoring on the play to make it 5-2. Josh Lopez followed with a two-run double to get his team within one.
 
Jefferson had runners on second and third for Marquise Wood, who smacked a base hit through the left side to put the Rams in front, 6-5. Santiago then bashed his second home run of the inning, capping off the scoring in the frame. Jefferson sent 11 hitters to the plate during the barrage.
 
Justin Espinal added an insurance run for the Rams with a home run in the sixth. Chestnut Hill managed two runs in the seventh and had the tying run in scoring position but Anthony Pillari fired a strikeout to earn his fifth save of the year.
 
Quick Hits
Josh Lopez: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Marquise Wood: 1-for-3, SB, 2 RBI, R
Diego Santiago: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Justin Espinal: 2-for-3, HR, 2 R
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson travels to Caldwell for two games on Sunday, April 16^th beginning at 1 p.m.