GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Justin Espinal hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the ninth inning to give the Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (14-13) a 5-3 non-conference victory at Adelphi (11-17) on Tuesday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams opened the scoring in the third as Marquise Wood remained hot at the plate, bashing a two-run, two-out homer to put Jefferson ahead 2-0. The Panthers cut the deficit to one by scoring on a wild pitch in the fourth.
 
Adelphi evened the score in the seventh with an RBI single. The Panthers had a chance for more with runners at second and third but Abixael Sosa recorded a strikeout to end the frame and keep it tied at two. Chris McLean crushed a solo homer in the eighth to put the Rams in front again but the Panthers answered with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-3.
 
In the ninth, Matt Vita drew a leadoff walk then went to second on a passed ball. Espinal then unloaded on an 0-2 pitch and hit it over the wall in straightaway center field to give Jefferson a 5-3 advantage. The Rams were able to load the bases following the homer but were not able to add any more runs. AJ Lefton allowed one baserunner in the bottom of the inning but closed out the victory and received the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Marquise Wood: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Chris McLean: 1-for-4, HR, BB
Diego Santiago: 2-for-3, BB
Matt Vita: 2-for-3, BB, R
Justin Espinal: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Tyler Behm: 6.1 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 5 BB, 2 K
AJ Lefton: Win, 1.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 K
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson hosts Bridgeport for a conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 5^th beginning at 12 p.m.