North Wales, PA – (3/27/2010) – Chestnut Hill College earned a split with Caldwell College in this afternoon's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) doubleheader. After falling 3-1 in the opener, the Griffins used their bats and legs to take the second game, 8-3. The Griffins stole 11 bases in the twin bill, with junior first baseman Mike Knipe (Sellersville, PA) and sophomore second baseman Jesse Daywalt (Phoenixville, PA) powering Chestnut Hill College to a game-two victory.
Caldwell College (6-11, 2-2) was first on the scoreboard in the opener, as senior right fielder Raymond Keelan (Barnegat, NJ) plated the first run in the top of the fourth inning with a double to left field. After a sacrifice bunt, the Cougars made their lead 2-0 with Keelan scoring on an unassisted grounder to first base. Chestnut Hill College (7-7, 5-1) cut the lead in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the inning as sophomore left fielder Alex Latchum (Warrington, PA) reached home on a double steal. The Griffins had a shot at tying the contest before the close of the inning with a second double steal, but senior pitcher Buddy Riggs (Coral Spring, FL) closed the door with one of his 13 strikeouts. Riggs kept the Griffins scoreless over the remaining innings while the Cougars scored one more run in their final at-bat for the 3-1 win. Riggs allowed one run on five hits and three walks in the complete-game effort. Junior pitcher Chris Lauber (Morton, PA) took the loss (1-2) for the Griffins without surrendering an earned run. He allowed six hits and a walk while striking out seven. Junior right fielder Dan Etherton (Princeton, NJ) led the Griffins offensively with two hits.
The action started in the fourth inning of game two as well, with Caldwell College scoring three in the top of the frame. After recording two outs, junior pitcher Justin Wiercinski (Hatboro, PA) lost command of the strike zone as the Cougars grabbed a 3-0 lead on three walks, a hit batsman, a wild pitch, and an uncompleted fielder's choice. The Griffins responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with junior designated hitter Andrew Donofry (Hatboro, PA) plating a run on a grounder to shortstop, 3-1. Knipe then unexpectedly stole home to make it 3-2, as the gutsy base running decision inspired the Griffins to a comeback victory. In the bottom of the fifth inning, a lead-off single from junior centerfielder Andrew Koziol (Wilmington, DE) turned into two runs as Daywalt followed with his first collegiate homerun, grabbing a 4-3 lead for the Griffins.
Four insurance runs followed in the seventh inning as freshman pitcher Bob Hopkins (Philadelphia, PA) earned his first win (1-0) with 1.1 innings of hitless relief. Junior pitcher Matt Casino (Port Chester, NY) followed Hopkins collecting his second save of the year in three innings of scoreless relief. Senior pitcher Thomas Forkin (Oceanside, NY) took the loss for the Cougars, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two in 4.1 innings.
The baseball team visits East Stroudsburg University for their next contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30.
