Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 New Castle, Del. - (5/8/2015) – Chestnut Hill College proved its resilience during a pair of games at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Tournament today, shaking off a 13-0 defeat at the hands of top-seeded Wilmington University to knock off #2 Post University for the second time in as many days, this time by a 6-2 count that punched the Griffins' ticket to the championship round. Senior right fielder Michael McLaughlin (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior designated hitter Brendan Looby (Sewell, N.J.) racked up three hits apiece against the Eagles as the scarlet and gold advanced to the CACC final for the second time in three seasons on another scorching day at Wilson Field.
 
Given just a half hour to dust off the morning setback, Chestnut Hill College (29-13) got its fourth meeting with Post University (21-18) off to a quick start. Junior first baseman Patrick Campion (Norristown, Pa.) doubled with one out in the top of the first and came around on when Looby poked a single through the left side, 1-0. The Griffin bats went silent over the next four innings, however, allowing the Eagles to jump into the driver's seat with single markers in the second and fourth frames, 2-1. That's when Chestnut Hill College made its move.
 
McLaughlin started the game-winning rally with an infield hit in the top of the sixth and moved to second on a liner to right center by junior catcher Robert Slagle III (Lafayette Hill, Pa.). Senior shortstop Preston Koehler (Bath, Pa.) kept the momentum going, chopping one past diving third baseman Dylan Pastor (Hewlett, N.Y.) and down the left-field line, plating McLaughlin with the tying run, 2-2. With the Eagle infield drawn in, senior third baseman Taylor Steen (New Egypt, N.J.) delivered what proved to be the knockout blow, a frozen rope to center that got down for a hit and brought Slagle in from third, 3-2. Freshman pitcher Andrew Sibson (Galloway, N.J.) then turned in a shutdown bottom of the sixth with some help from his defense; after a leadoff walk, Campion snared a line drive and stepped on the bag for a double play before junior left fielder Joseph Monaghan (Doylestown, Pa.) made another highlight-reel play, crashing into the fence in left center to snare the final out of the inning on a deep fly ball.
 
Monaghan dealt some damage with his bat moments later, guiding a seeing-eye single through the right side to score freshman second baseman Alec Craig (Hammonton, N.J.), 4-2, in the top of the seventh. After going to third on an errant pickoff, one of five Post University errors, Monaghan crossed the plate on McLaughlin's base knock through the left side, 5-2. Senior relievers Dane Gahr (Brick, N.J.) and Vincent Manzella (Matawan, N.J.) pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth, respectively, and back-to-back doubles by Looby and McLaughlin provided some extra insurance, 6-2, in the ninth.
 
Freshman Patrick Kelley (Pipersville, Pa.) worked into some trouble in the Eagles' final at-bat, as a hit and two walks loaded the bags with just one out. But the rookie dialed up a game-ending 6-4-3 twin killing to send the Griffins back to the CACC championship. Sibson (6-1) kept Chestnut Hill College close with six strong innings (6 IP, 5H, 2R, 2BB, 2K), enough time for Looby and McLaughlin to stir the offense. Each finished 3-for-5; Looby doubled twice, scored a run, and drove in another while McLaughlin had two RBIs and a run scored.
 
The first inning of the morning meeting with Wilmington University (32-12) set the tone for a rough outing. The Griffins left the bases loaded in their half, while the host Wildcats established their dominance by putting their first five batters on and scoring four times. Four singles, two of the infield variety, and a two-run double by senior second baseman Josh Swirchak (Manassas, Va.) put junior pitcher Zachary Crim (Horsham, Pa.) in a deep hole, but the right-hander held down the hosts over the next four frames to keep Chestnut Hill College in striking distance. Unfortunately, Wilmington University put the game away with two runs in the sixth and six more in the seventh; sophomore shortstop Christian Adorno (Millville, N.J.) went to a knee to lay down a suicide squeeze and later stole home for a 6-0 lead in the sixth, then added a two-run double in the next inning as the Wildcats pulled away.
 
Despite that dose of adversity, the Griffins clawed their way back to the CACC championship series, where they will challenge the Wildcats for the league crown for the second time in three years. Chestnut Hill College needs to win twice to hoist the trophy, with the first opportunity coming at 11:00 a.m. back at Wilson Field.