zFive Runs in the First Inning Help Lead Baseball to Rout Over West Virginia State in Season Opener 

WILSON, N.C. - The Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (1-0) started off the 2024 season by having five runs in the first inning and did not let up the rest of the game as the Rams won 14-1 over West Virginia State University (3-3) in the season opener. 

WHAT HAPPENED 
After Jefferson had the first three batters for the Yellow Jackets, the Rams would go out to an early lead that they would keep pressing in the first inning. After Marquie Wood singled and Chris McLean walked to get on base, both Rams were able to steal bases to have McLean on second and Wood on third. Josh Lopez would single to center field, bringing Wood home to have Jefferson up 1-0. Jay Kalieta singled down the middle to bring McLean and J. Lopez home, adding to Jefferson's lead. Kalieta would go onto steal second and third base before Joshua Lopez brought him home from a single to the left side. Jo. Lopez stole second, setting himself up to get home as Diego Santiago hit a single to the left side, bringing the Rams to a 5-0 left after the bottom of the first. 

Jem Sisco would strike out all three West Virginia State batters, holding the Yellow Jackets through two innings. Gabe Silva would get on base off a hit pitch. After having a lead on first, he steal second before continuing on a throw error that would lead him to home plate, making it 6-0 for Jefferson after only two innings. 

After another Sisco scoreless inning, Kalieta walked to first base. He would steal second and advance to third, setting him up to score as Santiago brought him home, securing a 7-0 lead for the Rams. After a homerun for the Yellow Jackets got them on the board, Jefferson would respond in the bottom of the fourth. Wood would get to base off of a West Virginia State error, putting him at third place. Silva would ground out to first base, but not before bringing Silva home to have an 8-1 lead after four. 

The game would remain scoreless as both teams would change pitchers, with Aiden Barbour and AJ Churaman getting into the lineup for the Rams. In the bottom of the eighth, Jefferson would tack on six more runs. With Espinal on third and Jo. Lopez on first, Alex Gonzalez would hit a double down the line, bringing both runners home to have it at 10-1. After a pitching change for the Yellow Jackets and an Al. Gonzalez stolen base, Wood would bring him home off a single. Wood would advance to second off a Silva walk, then to third from a fielder's choice from McLean. J. Lopez would bring Wood home from a single to center field with McLean going to second. After Kalieta walked to load the bases, Espinal would double to left field, bringing home Lopez and McLean home before Kalieta was tagged at before he could join them. This did not stop the score for the Rams, who would hold onto the ninth with a 14-1 win. 

QUICK HITS 
Marquise Wood: 2-for-5, 3 R, 2 RBI 
Gabe Silva: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI 
Josh Lopez: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI 
Jay Kalieta: 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI 
Justin Espinal: 1-for-4, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI 
Joshua Lopez: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI 
Diego Santiago: 2-for-4, 2 RBI 
Alex Gonzalez: 1-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI 
Chris McLean: 0-for-5, 1 R 
Jem Sisco: 5.0 IP, 13 SO, 4 H, 1 R 

UP NEXT 
Jefferson will continue their matches in North Carolina as they rematch West Virginia State this morning, followed by a contest against Lock Haven University.