Kress and Monaghan Earn CACC Honor Roll Mentions
New Haven, Conn. – (3/8/2016) – Concluding their spring trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the east coast of Florida with a 2-5 record, Chestnut Hill College was recognized on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Baseball Weekly Report with Honor Roll nods for sophomore pitcher Matthew Kress (Lansdale, Pa.) and junior outfielder Joseph Monaghan (Doylestown, Pa.). This is Monaghan’s second straight CACC Honor Roll mention while Kress earned his first appearance of the season.
In the first of two dates at Barry University, Chestnut Hill College found themselves in an uphill battle as the hosting Buccaneers scored three runs in the first inning, six runs in the second inning, and a run in the third inning to put the Griffins behind an early 10-0 deficit. The Scarlet and Gold scored twice in the sixth inning, but only stranded three more runners between the eighth and ninth innings to fall short in a 10-2 final. Monaghan each recorded two hits and played a role in each Griffin run with a sixth-inning, run-scoring single that put him aboard for a run-batted-in (RBI) single from senior left fielder Brendan Looby (Sewell, N.J.).
In their second day versus the Buccaneers came down to the final at-bat as the Griffins' four-run top of the ninth was rendered futile by two Barry University runs in the bottom of the frame, 10-9. It was the second walk-off defeat in three games for the Griffins, who received three hits apiece from freshman shortstop Jonathan Baturgil (Freehold, N.J.) and Monaghan.
In their first of five games at Ft. Pierce, Florida's Lawnwood Stadium, Chestnut Hill College came from seven runs down to still fall two runs shy of the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in an 8-6 final. Senior designated hitter Robert Slagle III (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) and junior catcher Christopher Demey (Phoenixville, Pa.) were in the middle of the Griffin rally, each recording a double and knocking in two runs. The last two Chestnut Hill College runs came across in the seventh inning, where a single to second base from Monaghan triggered the action. He moved to second base with a beaning of Looby and then to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on another Panther wild pitch.
?Following a 0-3 record against Barry University and Florida Tech, Chestnut Hill College concluded their time at Ft. Pierce, Florida's Lawnwood Stadium and their spring trip competition with a pair of doubleheaders versus West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) on Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5. The Bobcats took the first two contests 9-5 and 9-7 before the Griffins evened the score with wins of 7-2 and 3-2 on the second day of play. Monaghan (6-for-12, 3 RBI, 4-for-4 SB) and sophomore second baseman Alec Craig (Hammonton, N.J.) (5-for-13, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 4-for-4 SB) carried the Griffin offense while day-two victories were claimed by Kress (1-1) and junior transfer Justin Harnett (Aberdeen, N.J.) (1-2).
The Griffins were more fortunate on their second day of competition versus WVWC. They plated five runs in the fourth inning and two more in the seventh to match the Bobcats' fleeting effort. Sophomore designated hitter Matthew Owens (Cherry Hill, N.J.) doubled to lead-off the frame. It was followed by a Monaghan single (1-0), an error by the Bobcat pitcher (2-0), an error by the Bobcat third baseman, a grounder to third base from junior third baseman Austin DiBonaventure (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) (3-0), a Craig bunt single and stolen base, a grounder to short from senior first baseman Patrick Campion (Norristown, Pa.) (4-0), and a single to left field from freshman third baseman Zach Szumigala (Fairless Hills, Pa.) (5-0). In the sixth inning, DiBonaventure led off with a single to short before advancing all the way to third base on an error by the Bobcat pitcher. Craig was then hit and immediately stole second base only to score along with DiBonaventure on a Campion single to center field, 7-0. WVWC managed two sixth-inning runs, but that was all Kress allowed in a complete game effort. He allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
The Chestnut Hill College baseball team is scheduled to return home and officially open Latshaw-McCarthy Field on Wednesday, March 9, when they host The Lincoln University in a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader.
