Baseball Wins CACC South Division with Sweep over Holy Family on Senior Day
PHILADELPHIA – Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (28-13, 16-6) took on Holy Family University (19-24, 11-11) in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) South Division competition, with the Rams looking to secure a first-round bye in the CACC Championship Tournament. Jefferson swept the Tigers 14-2 in game one and 11-3 in game two for the conference wins as the Rams' celebrated their seniors on Senior Day.
WHAT HAPPENED
GAME ONE: W, 14-2 (SEVEN INNINGS)
The Rams picked up where they last left off from their single game against Holy Family on Wednesday, putting up three runs in the top of the first inning. Marquise Wood hit a sacrifice fly to have Chris McLean make homeplate. Joshua Lopez double to the left line allowed Josh Lopez to add another score while Justin Espinal single through the right side added one more run for the Rams. The Tigers responded with two runs in the second inning from a triple to center field and throwing error by shortstop to trail by one.
Jo. Lopez hit his 18th homerun on the season, still ranking high in the nation while leading the NCAA in homeruns-per-game (0.49), as he added three more runs in the bottom of the second. The Rams capitalized on a throwing error by Holy Family, giving Gabe Silva a run as the lead became 7-2.
Jefferson put on a scoring show in the fifth inning with seven runs. Jo. Lopez hit a sacrifice fly RBI to get Jordan Tiburcio to homeplate. Joshu. Lopez single through the left side put another run for the Rams while a walk with the bases loaded put the matchup at 10-2. Espinal delivered a grand slam to center field, putting the game at 14-2 which Jefferson would hold onto the rest of the way in game one. Samuel Bass put seven strikeouts with his six innings on the mound for Jefferson. AJ Churaman finished the last inning with two strikeouts to complete game one for the Rams.
QUICK HITS
Josh Lopez: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Joshua Lopez: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
Gabe Silva: 2-for-2, 2 R, 1 RBI
Justin Espinal: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Chris McLean: 3-for-4, 3 R
Samuel Bass: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 SO
AJ Churaman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 SO
GAME TWO: W, 11-3
Jefferson got out ahead in game two with Wood's single through the right side bringing Justin Egner to homeplate for an early Rams' lead in the first inning. Alex Gonzalez homer in the second brough the lead to 2-0 for the Jefferson. The Tigers would slowly pick away at the lead with a run in the third, fourth, and fifth inning to jump ahead and take the lead for the first time in this series.
Jefferson did not stay behind for long as a throwing error by the Tigers' pitcher and a single to the left line put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, making the game 4-3 in favor of the Rams'. Jefferson replicated their first game as they put on seven runs in a inning, this time in the sixth.
Egner's single to center field put the first run on for the Rams. McLean sacrifice fly got Al. Gonzalez to homeplate. A walk with the bases loaded secured another Rams' run while a fielder's choice gave Egner a run to put the game at 8-3. Jefferson added to their lead off a fielding error by the shortstop and a Diego Santiago double to right center, getting the game to 11-3. Holy Family tried to mount a comeback, but a double play ended the opportunity as Jefferson secured the sweep over the Tigers. Albert Bobadilla had five strikeouts in his five innings on the mound for Jefferson. Anthony Pillari struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth while Jack Ricketts only allowed one hit in the seventh.
QUICK HITS
Justin Egner: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI
Marquise Wood: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Diego Santiago: 3-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI
Alex Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Albert Bobadilla: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 5 SO
Anthony Pillari: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 SO
Jack Ricketts: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
With their sweep over Holy Family and a split between Wilmington University and Goldey-Beacom College, Jefferson has secured the CACC South Division title and earned a bye in the CACC Championship Tournament. This is the first regular season CACC title for the Rams' in school history since joining the conference in 2006.
UP NEXT
Jefferson finishes their regular season as they head over to Connecticut to take on the University of Bridgeport on Sunday, April 28 in a doubleheader. The first game begins at noon.
