Box Score New Castle, Del. – (5/9/2013) – Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Tournament baseball continued today with a pair of contests at Wilson Stadium in New Castle, Delaware. In the afternoon's first contest, #1 Wilmington University came from behind to defeat #5 Felician College, 5-4, while #6 Chestnut Hill College continued to run hot with their 10-1 trouncing of #2 Dominican College. Senior pitcher Robert Hopkins (Philadelphia, Pa.) manned the mound while nearly every Griffin who came to the plate reached base at least once in the 16-hit barrage.
 
This afternoon's affair between the Griffins and Chargers remained scoreless until the third inning, when Chestnut Hill College (19-25) took advantage of some sloppy Dominican College (28-21) defense for a 2-0 advantage. The three-error inning left the Chargers reeling and put Hopkins in a catbird seat as the Griffins senior hurler allowed the Chargers only four base runners through their first five at-bats. Meanwhile his teammates continued their support with a five-run sixth inning.
 
The sixth frame began with a lead-off walk to junior third baseman Raymond Puskar (Green Lane, Pa.), who was quickly advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore second baseman Taylor Steen (New Egypt, N.J.). Junior center fielder Desmond Lites (Philadelphia, Pa.) then beat out a grounder to second base, advancing Puskar to third base, before senior shortstop Joseph Crane (Churchville, Pa.) laced a single down the right field line to bring him home and leave Lites in scoring position, 3-0. After Lites was caught stealing, three more hits and another Charger error allowed the Griffins to inflate their lead to 7-0. A pair of singles rectified one run in the bottom of the inning, 7-1, but that was all the Chargers could muster off of Hopkins; who won a 10-1 final thanks to the Griffins three-run eighth inning.
 
Sophomore right fielder Michael McLaughlin (Philadelphia, Pa.) helped facilitate the Griffins continued offensive onslaught with a four-hit (4-for-5) effort. Lites recorded three hits (3-for-5) while three other Griffins contributed two hits in the triumph; freshman first baseman Patrick Campion (Norristown, Pa.) knocked in four runs with his two-run sixth-inning single and his two-run eighth-inning double. Hopkins improved to 5-4 on the year, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven in the complete game effort.
 
With the win, the baseball team will now play Wilmington University in a 3:00 p.m. contest, tomorrow, Friday, May 10, at Blue Rocks Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware. That game will follow a 12:00 p.m. contest between Felician College and Dominican College. In the double-elimination format; if the Griffins win, they will await an opponent in Saturday's, May 11, CACC Championship Games while a loss, places the Griffins opposite the winner of the Golden Falcons and Chargers contest in a 6:00 p.m. “loser-go-home” showdown.
 
Remaining CACC Championship Tournament Schedule:
 
Friday, May 10 @ Frawley Stadium (Blue Rocks Stadium, Wilmington, Del.)
Game 3- 12:00 PM - #5 Felician vs. #2 Dominican
Game 4- 3:00 PM - #1 Wilmington vs. #6 Chestnut Hill
Game 5- 6:00 PM winner of game 3 vs. loser of game 4
 
Saturday, May 11 @ Frawley Stadium*
Game 6- 11:00 AM winner of game 4 vs. winner of game 5
Game 7- 2:00 PM (If Needed)
 
*Rainout Date – Sunday, May 12, 2013