Baseball Routs Lions in Game Two; Sweeps Lincoln
PHILADELPHIA – The Rams scored 11 runs in the third inning of game two, posting two homeruns and a grand slam, to secure a route and finish two doubleheader victories for Thomas Jefferson University baseball (6-4) over Lincoln University (Pa.) (2-4) in non-conference action. The first game ended in a 7-5 win while the second game was concluded in six innings as the Rams won 22-2.
WHAT HAPPENED
GAME ONE: W 7-5
The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the top of the second, scoring two of their three runs on fielding errors. Jefferson responded in the bottom of the third as they added two runs, cutting Lincoln's lead to one. With the bases loaded, Marquie Wood hit the ball into a double play for Lincoln, but it allowed Joshua Lopez to make it to home plate and Diego Santiago got to third base. This allowed Gabe Silva a scoring opportunity, bringing Santiago in for a second Rams' run on a double to right field as Jefferson trailed 3-2 after three innings.
Justin Egner tied the game from a sacrifice bunt to Lions pitcher, getting Josh Lopez to home plate and Alexander Angulo to second. An error on the shortstop placed Angulo to third and Joshu. Lopez on first, giving Jefferson an opportunity to take the lead. Santiago sent a sacrifice fly to deep center field, allowing both Ram runners to score and put Jefferson up 5-3.
A Lincoln homer in the top of the fifth brought the Jefferson lead down to one score. The Rams' went in the bottom of the same inning to put up two scores for Jefferson. After Wood earned a run for the Rams, Chris McLean set himself up at third base off a Lions wild pitch. Kyle Kozlowski pinch hit for Jefferson, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field to give McLean time for another score, finishing the inning with a 7-5 lead.
Aiden Barbour pitched a scoreless sixth inning to maintain the three point Ram lead. Anthony Pillari entered in the seventh, looking to close out game one with a Ram victory. Lincoln took a score from a wild pitch, getting within two runs of Jefferson's lead. A pop up to second base and a liner to shortstop finished game one in favor of the Rams.
QUICK HITS
Gabe Silva: 1-for-2, 1 RBI
Chris McLean: 1-for-3, 1 R
Josh Lopez: 1-for-2, 1 R
Marquie Wood: 0-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI
Joshua Lopez: 0-for-2, 2 R
Diego Santiago: 0-for-1, 1 R, 1 RBI
Alexander Angulo: 0-for-1, 1 R
Aiden Barbour: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 SO
Aiden Barbour: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 SO
Anthony Pillari: 1.0 IP, I Save
GAME TWO: W 22-2 (6 INNINGS)
Before the Rams' put up ten times the amount of runs as their opposition, they trailed from the first inning to Lincoln. The Lions hit a sacrifice fly to center field, putting them up 1-0. Jefferson responded quickly in the bottom of the same inning, replicating Lincoln's score with McLean's sacrifice fly out to right field as he brought Silva to homeplate and even the game at 1-1.
Santiago delivered a double in the second inning, getting Joshu. Lopez and Enger home and add to Jefferson's lead 3-1. After getting to third from Angulo's single, Santiago scored off a Wood sacrifice fly and make it 4-1.
Tyler Behm was able to have a scoreless third inning, getting all three batters for Lincoln out on a strike and two ground outs. Jefferson went to put up 11 runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Rams loaded the bases and, after three scores off walks, Justin Espinal nailed a grand slam to left field as Jefferson went up 11-1. McClean and Jo. Lopez followed by hitting their own homeruns. Joshu. Lopez finished the scoring barrage by clearing a double to the left line, bringing Egner and Jordan Tiburico home as Jefferson finished the third up 15-1.
The Lions scored on a homerun in the top of the fourth inning to make it 15-2 in favor of Jefferson. The Rams loaded the bases in the bottom of the same inning, getting two straight runs off walks. Egner's single to left field brought Roman Reed home while Lou Spadafora got hit by pitch for Will Woodring to make home plate. Matt Vita's single to shortstop earned Jordan Tiburcio a run as Jefferson lead 20-2.
Getting three outs after facing four batters in the top of the fifth, Jefferson concluded their run barrage with Tiburcio's two-run homerun. Orion Frailey finished the pitching for the Rams' with the game concluded after the field was too dark to continue play. Jefferson took their first 20+ run victory since May 3, 2023 when the Rams beat Bloomfield 23-3.
QUICK HITS
Justin Espinal: 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Chris McLean: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Josh Lopez: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Justin Egner: 4-for-4, 3 R, 1 RBI
Joshua Lopez: 1-for-1, 2 R, 2 RBI
Diego Santiago: 1-for-1, 2 R, 3 RBI
Alex Gonzalez: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI
Roman Reed: 2-for-2, 2 R
Gabe Silva: 1-for-2, 1 R
Tyler Behm: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 SO
Steve Graziano: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 SO
Orion Frailey: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2.0 SO
UP NEXT
Jefferson will rest for the weekend before traveling to Lincoln University, Pa. to finish their matchup with the Lions on Monday, March 11.
