Norristown, PA – (4/30/2011) – It was a proud day for Chestnut Hill College Baseball, as the program paid tribute to the inaugural senior class with a thrilling sweep of Post University. The Griffins took two Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contests from the Eagles, winning the marathon opener 5-4 in 16 innings and the nightcap 7-1. Junior centerfielder Eric Blood (Perkasie, PA) was the hero in the first game, rewarding another great effort from the Griffin bullpen. Senior right fielder Dan Etherton (Princeton, NJ) complimented as strong outing from junior Dan Morgan (Upper Darby, PA) with four hits in game two.

 

The opener was 3-3 after three innings and 4-4 after eight innings, before the cease-fire set in. Chestnut Hill College (15-20, 10-9) and Post University (22-16, 12-8) then took turns shutting each other down with junior Cutler Ruby (Diboli, TX) dealing for the Eagles and the Griffins resorting to the relief work of senior Matt Casino (Port Chester, NY) and junior Rudy Behrens (Wallingford, CT). Ruby entered the game in the bottom of the ninth, as the Griffins threatened to win the contest in regulation with lead-off single from freshman designated hitter Ray Puskar (Green Lane, PA); while Casino and Behrens shutout the Eagles for the final 8.2 innings. Trouble found Ruby in the 16^th inning with senior first baseman Mike Knipe (Sellersville, PA) sending a lead-off single back through the box. A sacrifice would move Knipe to second base, but the Griffins quickly grew thin on outs with back-to-back strikeouts. Fortunately, a heads-up play landed two runners in scoring position as senior shortstop George Kochu (Pottstown, PA) reached on a dropped third strike. A walk to sophomore catcher Timothy DiMonte (Downingtown, PA) loaded then loaded the bases before Blood's walk-off single skirted safely through the right side. Behrens earned the win (3-4) for the Griffins; he struck out eight while allowing one hit and one walk in five innings of relief.

 

Riding on emotion and eight quality innings from Morgan, the Griffins cruised to victory in game two. A single from senior third baseman D.J. Santoro Jr. (Jeffersonville, PA) knocked in the Griffins first run in the fourth inning, 1-0. Blood and junior second baseman Jesse Daywalt (Phoenixville, PA) would do the same in the fifth inning to make it 3-0, before Puskar and freshman catcher Joe Mullin (Warrington, PA) platted runs in the sixth inning, 5-0. That was more than enough protection for Morgan, who mowed down eight Eagles in eight innings of work. He allowed one run on six hits and a walk.

Prior to this afternoon's doubleheader, the Chestnut Hill College Athletics Department honored Santoro, Kochu, Knipe, Etherton, senior catcher Andrew Donofry (Hatboro, PA), and senior pitchers Chris Lauber (Morton, PA), Justin Wiercinski (Hatboro, PA), Ryan Weber (Philadelphia, PA), and Casino in their final home event.