Baseball Holds Franklin Pierce Comeback; Scores 19 Runs in NCAA Tournament Victory
HOOKSETT, N.H. - Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (33-15) had an 8-1 lead over the Ravens, who would trail 8-6 after the top of the sixth. This made the Rams score 11 runs in the final three innings to walk away the first game of the NCAA East Regional I Tournament with a 19-6 win over Franklin Pierce University (28-19) to head in the winner's bracket.
WHAT HAPPENED
The fifth contest between both teams this season began with neither side scoring in the first two innings, keeping the game scoreless for the first round of the tournament. Jefferson then showed their offense on the East Regional stage, scoring six runs in the bottom of the third. Having the bases loaded, a fielder's choice on a Josh Lopez at bat made an out for the Ravens and gave Lou Spadafora a score for Jefferson. Joshua Lopez replicated his teammates play as Franklin Pierce got another out while allowing Justin Egner to put a second run for the Rams. Gabe Silva knocked a single up the middle for a third score in the inning.
Getting the bases loaded once more with a Raven's, Jordan Tibucio got on base with a hit by pitch, getting the lead to 4-0 for Jefferson. Spadafora's return to at bat from the top of the inning gave him the chance to get a hit after being walked early on. He showed up with a two-run single to the right side, giving the Rams a 6-0 lead after three innings.
Franklin Pierce got on the board with a homerun in the top of the fourth to make the match 6-1. Jefferson put two more runs in the bottom of the same inning by way of a Silva sacrifice bunt and a Matt Vita single to left center for an 8-1 advantage. The Ravens began to comeback with four runs in the fifth, which included a three-run homerun, and one in the sixth to trail Jefferson 8-6.
The Rams began their 11-run spree throughout the next three innings, with four of them coming in the bottom of the sixth. A walk with Silva at bat and the bases loaded got the first run in for the Rams. After two outs, a Spadafora single to right field brought two runners home while a wild pitch gave Vita the opportunity to earn a run, getting the match to 12-6. Joshu. Lopez single in the seventh added one more score as the Rams headed into the eighth inning.
After three straight strikeouts by Samuel Bass in the top of the eighth, Jefferson took advantage by pouring on six more runs. A wild pitch put the first run on the board for the Rams. Jo. Lopez sacrifice fly to center field got the second score in the inning with runners on first and second. After a walk to load the bases up, Joshu. Lopez delivered a grand slam to center field, adding four more runs and ending the scoring barrage at 19-6 for Jefferson. Two strikeouts and a flyout to right field ended the first game of the NCAA East Regional I match with the Rams' first tournament win since 1990, getting Jefferson to the next game of the bracket.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Joshua Lopez: 2-for-4, 4 R, 1 Grand Slam, 6 RBI
Gabe Silva: 1-for-2, 2 R, 3 RBI
Josh Lopez: 1-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI
Matt Vita: 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI
Lou Spadafora: 3-for-4, 2 R, 4 RBI
UP NEXT
Jefferson will head to the winner's bracket as they await #1 seed in the region and #21 ranked in the NCBWA Southern New Hampshire University as both teams look to compete against each other in potential final two-to-three games in the East Regional I Tournament. The first game will be on Friday, May 17 at 12 p.m.
