Baseball Comes Back Against West Virginia State; Falls in Game Two to Lock Haven
WILSON, N.C. - The Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (2-1) rallied in their first game on Saturday when they rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the top of the sixth as they had eight unanswered runs through the rest of the game to win 8-3 over West Virginia State University (3-4). The Rams would then play Lock Haven University (3-2) where they would fall 3-0 to the Bald Eagles.
WHAT HAPPENED
GAME ONE VS WEST VIRGINIA STATE
The Yellow Jackets would get ahead as they scored the first three runs of the game in the first inning. A walk with the bases loaded and a single that drove to West Virginia State players to home plate put them up 3-0. Jefferson would get as close as second base, but the Yellow Jackets held their own as they held the Rams scoreless through five innings.
In the sixth inning, with Chris McLean on base from a walk, Josh Lopez would strike one of his two homeruns of the game, getting the Rams on the board as they now trailed 3-2.
Albert Bobadilla, after surrendering three runs to West Virginia State, would hold them scoreless for the rest of the innings he pitched for Jefferson. He would struck out seven batters before giving the reigns on the mount to Tyler Behm. After both teams kept the other scoreless for two innings, Jefferson would take the lead at the top of the eighth inning.
Gabe Silva would walk in the top of the eighth. He would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chris McLean before getting to third on a wild pitch. Jay Kalieta would bring Silva home as he singled to center field, tying the game at 3-3. Kalieta would get to third from a single to the right side by Justin Espinal. Joshua Lopez would double to left field, bringing Kalieta home as the Rams would be up 4-3 as they headed into the final inning. The Yellow Jackets would have a tying run on third in the bottom of the eighth, but a fly out to center field stopped West Virginia State's chances.
Jefferson would add to their lead in the top of the ninth. Having Alex Gonzalez on second and Silva on first, J. Lopez would hit his second homerun in the game, bringing his fellow Rams to home plate and getting a 7-3 lead for Jefferson. Kalieta would then be walked to first then steal second before getting home from a Espinal single that would get the Rams to 8-3. Jefferson would have the first three batters for West Virginia State out on grounded plays and a liner to earn their second win in as many games.
QUICK HITS
Gabe Silva: 2-for-4, 2 R
Chris McLean: 0-for-3, 1 R
Josh Lopez: 2-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Jay Kalieta: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Alex Gonzalez: 0-for-2, 1 R
Albert Bobadilla: 5.0 IP, 3 R, 3 RBI, 7 SO
Tyler Behm: 4.0 IP, 1 BB
GAME TWO VS LOCK HAVEN
Jefferson would battle Lock Haven for the first of their two games this weekend, and they would start trailing. After the Bald Eagles held the Rams scoreless in the top of the first, with a player on second base, a single to left center would put Lock Haven up 1-0 in the bottom of the first.
Jefferson would have an opportunity in the fourth as McLean made it to third off a single to first, a wild pitch, and to third off of a grounded out by Kalieta. But Lock Haven made a ground out by their shortstop to keep it scoreless for the Rams. Samuel Bass, who started the game for Jefferson, would hold the Bald Eagles scoreless for majority of his time at the mound after giving up the one run. But Lock Haven would add two in the bottom of the fourth to be up 3-0.
Jack Ricketts would come into the game for Jefferson, not allowing a hit through his 3.1 innings played. He only allowed runners on base by a walk, a hit by pitch, and a fielder's choice. But the Rams would not be able to get on the scoreboard as Lock Haven kept their 3-0 lead to shutout Jefferson.
QUICK HITS
Chris McLean: 1-for-3
Justin Espinal: 1-for-3,
Diego Santiago: 2-for-3
Samuel Bass: 4.2 IP, 7 hits, 3 R, 3 ER, 9 SO, 4 BB
Jack Ricketts: 3.1 IP, 3 SO, 1 BB
UP NEXT
Jefferson will conclude their North Carolina trip as they face Lock Haven once again on Sunday, February 25 at 10:30 a.m.
