Baseball Finishes Season Finale with Sweep Over Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (30-13, 18-6) looked to end their regular season on a high note as they prepare for the CACC Championship Tournament. The Rams concluded their season with a sweep over Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) North opponent the University of Bridgeport (11-31, 9-15). Jefferson came back in the first game to win 3-2 while running away with five runs in the sixth inning to take game two 13-3.
WHAT HAPPENED
GAME ONE: W, 3-2
Bridgeport got out to an early lead as a single brought a Purple Knight runner to homeplate and giving them an early lead. Jefferson had an opportunity in the first to score with a runner on third but could not capitalize, leaving the Rams scoreless for the next five innings. Meanwhile, Bridgeport put another score in the third with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Purple Knights had an early lead over Jefferson, who is receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top-25, and looked to knock them out of contention. The Rams refused to stay down as they answered with three runs in the sixth inning. Gabe Silva hit a single to the left side for Josh Lopez to score, having the lead cut down to one score. Diego Santiago at bat saw him hit the ball to the second baseman for a routine out. The Purple Knights player was unable to have a hold of the ball, giving Marquise Wood room for a run and Silva chance to just beat the throw and put the Rams' up 3-2.
The Purple Knights had two more chances to get back in the game, but a double play in the sixth and two strikeouts followed by a fielder's choice ended Bridgeport's comeback as Jefferson came back and took game one 3-2. Tyler Behm had only 1 earned run and struck out four batters while Anthony Pillari finished with 3 strike outs on the day.
QUICK HITS
Josh Lopez: 2-for-4, 1 R
Gabe Silva: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
Tyler Behm: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 SO
Anthony Pillari: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 SO
GAME TWO: W, 13-3
Jefferson got an early score in the second game as a fielding error brought Chris McLean to homeplate. Bridgeport earned a run with a single through the right field to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning. McLean put a RBI single to the right field for a Justin Egner score. Jo. Lopez put up a team-high and NCAA top-20 19th homerun on the season as he hit a two-run homerun to get the Rams up 4-1. Bridgeport added two scores off a triple and double in the third, trailing 4-3 heading into the fourth inning.
Jefferson began to slowly pull away from the Purple Knights. Alex Gonzalez two-run single and Egner double RBI added three runs for the Rams, making it 7-3. The sixth saw five runs made by Jefferson with a throwing error by Bridgeport's pitcher got Silva a run. A McLean fielder's choice brought Diego Santiago to homeplate while a RBI single from Jo. Lopez, a wild pitch score for McLean, and a two-run single to center field by Joshua Lopez put the Rams' in a commanding 12-3 lead. Jordan Tiburcio sealed it in the seventh with a triple to get Santiago to round the bases and finish the game with a 13-3 victory. Sean Morag only allowed 3 runs in the game while striking out 6 batters. Abixael Sosa ended the game with striking out every batter he faced in the seventh inning.
QUICK HITS
Gabe Silva: 2-for-4, 2 R
Josh Lopez: 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Chris McLean: 2-for-5, 3 R, 2 RBI
Justin Egner: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI
Joshua Lopez: 1-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI
Alex Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
Sean Morgan: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 6 SO
Abixael Sosa: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 SO
30 WINS
With their victory in game two, Jefferson has now eclipsed 30 wins for the second time in program history and first since 1990 when the Rams went 34-15-1. 1990 was also the last time Jefferson made the NCAA Tournament. Jefferson is currently receiving votes in the NCBWA Top-25 poll and third in the NCBWA East Region rankings while NCAA has the Rams' at sixth.
UP NEXT
Jefferson will now await their opponent in the CACC Tournament on May 9 as the Rams are the #1 overall seed and will face either Felician or Caldwell on Thursday, May 9 at 11 a.m. at Post University in Municipal Stadium.
