Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (5/6/2017) – A combined four-hit shutout and some opportunistic base running led #4 Chestnut Hill College to a 2-0 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Opening Round victory over #5 Bloomfield College this afternoon. In an auspicious setting, at La Salle University's Hank DeVincent Field – site of the Griffins' first-ever competition, junior Patrick Kelley (Pipersville, Pa.) and sophomore Dino Cattai (Philadelphia, Pa.) kept the Bears off balance, while a first-inning cross-up at third base and a fourth-inning, bases-loaded, beaning of senior centerfielder Joseph Monaghan (Doylestown, Pa.) plated the runs necessary to beat the Bears.
 
Chestnut Hill College (21-19-1) scored their first of two tallies in their first at-bat. A pair of lead-off singles from junior shortstop Alec Craig (Hammonton, N.J.) and senior left fielder Brandon DiBona (Southampton, Pa.) got things started. A sacrifice from sophomore catcher Eric Gilham (Deptford, N.J.) put both runners in scoring position, but it was the following fielder's choice on a grounder from junior first baseman Matthew Owens (Cherry Hill, N.J.) that put the first tally on the scoreboard. Owens' grounder to third base set up a play at the plate, but Craig retreated to third base, meeting DiBona at the bag, before hustling back home while the Bloomfield College (18-22) was caught sleeping, 1-0.
 
In the fourth inning, Gilham connected for a lead-off single before an Owens ground out and a Bear throwing error moved him to third base. Senior third baseman Austin DiBonaventure (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) walked to load the bases. The next pitch hit Monaghan in the leg and scored the Griffins' second run.
 
Kelley cruised through the eighth inning, allowing four base runners and striking out seven before handing the game over to Cattai. The Scarlet and Gold closer navigated the ninth inning, giving up a single through the right side and walking a batter prior to ending the contest with a pair of fielder's choices.

Craig was 3-for-4 and Gilham 2-for-3 in addition to scoring the Griffins' two runs. DiBona and freshman second baseman Ameir Uzzell (Levittown, Pa.) were responsible for the other two Chestnut Hill College hits. Kelley (4-3) earned his fourth win, while Cattai collected his ninth (9) save of the season.  
 
Chestnut Hill College awaits the winners of the remaining CACC Opening Round contests which take place tomorrow, Sunday, May 7. The next round of CACC Championship Tournament play takes place on Thursday, April 11, when the Griffins travel to Post University for the double-elimination round.