Baseball Begins Season with Victory Against Arkansas Tech
HOUSTON, Texas – Thomas Jefferson University baseball (1-0) started their year off earlier than usual as they headed down to Houston for a chance to compete against the top teams around the nation in the Houston Winter Invitational inside Daikin Park, home of the Major League Baseball (MLB) team Houston Astros. The Rams made their statement on the first day, taking a 6-5 win over Arkansas Tech University (0-1) to open their 2025 campaign.
WHAT HAPPENED
- Jefferson, who is currently receiving votes in the NCBWA poll, went down early in the first inning as the Wonder Boys had a sacrifice fly to take a run in the top of the first inning. Jefferson had two walks in the bottom of the first before being struck out to stay trailing Arkansas Tech
- After keeping the Wonder Boys scoreless in the second, the Rams added three runs in the bottom of the same inning. After Gabe Silva walked and advance to third off two grounded outs, Luis Beato Mora, a Northampton CC transfer, nailed a double to left field, bringing Silva home to even the game out.
- Javon Hernandez, the graduate student from Auburn University, followed suit as a single to center field brought the leading runner to home plate for a 2-1 lead. Thomas Matuszewski, coming from Mount Saint Mary, put a triple to center field as the game swung in favor of Jefferson
- After another shutout by Danny Kerr, the Rams put two more runs as a throwing error to second gave Justin Egner the opportunity to score in the bottom of the third. Another error by Arkansas Tech let Silva put his second run on the day and make it a 5-1 Jefferson lead
- With the fourth inning scoreless, Jefferson got another run with Lou Spadafora hitting a single to right field, giving Silva time for his third run on the day and securing a 6-1 lead
- The Wonder Boys refused to go down without a fight as they added two runs in the top of the sixth inning
- After being scoreless the rest of the way, Arkansas Tech hit a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth to trail by one, but Tyler Behm had the Wonder Boys strike out swinging to secure the 6-5 win. Danny Kerr earned the win as he struck out four batters and only allowed two runs on five hits. Behm took the save with 5 strikeouts and only two earned runs on two hits
QUICK HITS
Javon Hernandez: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double
Gabe Silva: 1-for-3, 3 runs
Thomas Matuszewski: 1-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 triple
Lou Spadafora: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Justin Egner: 0-for-2, 1 run
Luis Beato Mora: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double
Danny Kerr: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 SO, 2 BB
Tyler Behm: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 SO, 2 BB
UP NEXT
Jefferson now continues their time down in Houston as they compete against Mississippi College on Saturday, February 1 at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. CST).
