Gilham Earns First CACC Weekly Honor Roll Recognition
New Haven, Conn. - (5/1/2017) – Sophomore catcher Eric Gilham (Deptford, N.J.) made his first career appearance on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Baseball Weekly Honor Roll this week, after batting .417 (10-for-24) with three runs and three runs-batted-in (RBI) in an unfortunate 1-6 stretch against Dominican College (L, 4-5 and W, 3-1 (8) on April 24), Philadelphia University (L, 7-22 and L, 2-4 on April 28), Post University (L, 2-3 and L, 0-1 on April 29), and Bloomfield College (L, 1-8 on April 30).
Sophomore designated hitter Zach Szumigala (Fairless Hills, Pa.) served as the hero of Monday’s CACC doubleheader at PCU Park in Panoma, New York. His two-out double to left center scored the necessary runs for Chestnut Hill College to defeat Dominican College by a 3-1 extra-inning final in the nightcap. Unfortunately, The Chargers took the first game by a 5-4 final thanks to a series ninth-inning base hits. Gilham was a table setter in the twin bill, but only scored once despite going 5-for-7 with a double and a walk.
It was a tale of two different games on Thursday, April 28, but Chestnut Hill College lost both contests of a seven-inning, non-conference doubleheader at Philadelphia University by finals of 22-7 and 4-2. In the opener, Gilham went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI as he hit his first collegiate home run in the seventh inning. He was one of five Griffins to record a hit in game two as he knocked in one of the Scarlet and Gold runs with a sixth-inning single to left. Senior Christopher Demey (Phoenixville, Pa.) knocked in the other with a pinch-hit grounder to third base in the fifth inning.
Chestnut Hill College concluded their 2017 regular-season home schedule on Saturday, April 29, with an afternoon CACC twin bill versus Post University. Unfortunately, the Eagles spoiled the annual Senior Day send-off with league wins of 3-2 and 1-0. Junior left fielder Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) knocked in both of the Griffin runs in game one, while a combination of junior Andrew Sibson (Galloway, N.J.) and senior Dylan Borawski (Hatfield, Pa.) kept Chestnut Hill College in the game-two pitcher’s duel. Gilham recorded a hit in each game to go 2-for-7 in the twin bill.
Bringing their CACC season to a close, Chestnut Hill College made up an early-season rain out on Sunday, April 30, with a seven-inning league contest at Bloomfield College. The Bears got the jump on the Griffins with a run in each of their first two at-bats. They added four more runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to outweigh a run-scoring single from sophomore designate hitter Eric Small (Downingtown, Pa.) in the Scarlet and Gold half of the fifth frame; 8-1. Junior first baseman Matthew Owens (Cherry Hill, N.J.) recorded the other Griffin hit.
With one game remaining on the Griffins’ regular season schedule, Gilham is carrying a .299 (32-for-107)/.402/.383 slash line that has produced 18 runs and 18 RBI. He has recorded 25 singles, six doubles, and one home run, while drawing 17 walks and stealing one base (1-for-3, .333).
Chestnut Hill College finishes regular season schedule on Wednesday, May 3, when they travel to Kutztown University for 3:00 p.m. contest.
