Philadelphia, PA – (5/3/2011) – Chestnut Hill College won the backend of a doubleheader with Philadelphia University, 10-6, after dropping the opening Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) game by a narrow 4-3 final. Senior first baseman Mike Knipe (Sellersville, PA) connected for two homeruns and four runs-batted-in (RBI) in the Griffins second-game victory while back-to-back, third-inning homeruns powered the Rams in game one.

 

Chestnut Hill College (16-21, 10-10) sought revenge for an opening CACC loss with five runs in their first, two at-bats of game two. The Griffins manufactured a run in their first at-bat with a hit batsman, a balk, a single from senior right fielder Dan Etherton (Princeton, NJ), and sacrifice fly from senior third baseman D.J. Santoro Jr. (Jeffersonville, PA), 1-0. They added five in the second inning with another sacrifice fly, another Etherton single, and a three-run shot from Knipe, 6-0. Philadelphia University (5-34, 3-17) allowed the Griffins another run in the third inning before cutting the gap with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, 7-3. The Griffins did not let the game stay close for long as another Knipe homer, a single from senior designated hitter Ryan Weber (Philadelphia, PA), a double-play brought home the runs, 10-3. The Rams threatened with three runs in their final plate appearance, 10-6, but junior pitcher John Flack (Upper Holland, PA) shut the door, retiring the last two outs for the save (1).

 

The Rams got the jump on the Griffins in the opener, scoring three runs to overshadow a solo homerun by senior shortstop Kochu (Pottstown, PA), 3-1. Freshman left fielder Ray Puskar (Green Lane, PA) cut it to 3-2 with a double in the top of the fourth, but the Rams matched the tally in the sixth with a RBI-double of their own, 4-2. He struck again, this time creating the drama with his first homerun of the season, 4-3. Unfortunately, the Griffins could not capitalize on Puskar's slam and Rams escaped with the CACC win.

 

The baseball team completes their 2011 schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, May 4, with a 4:00 p.m., non-conference contest at Wilmington University.