Norristown, Pa. – (3/16/2019) – A four-run third inning in game one was the changing point in this afternoon's doubleheader with Mansfield University as Chestnut Hill College used the rally to defeat the Mountaineers by a 5-3 score in the opener and a 10-3 measure in the nightcap. Sophomore Andrew Dietz (Warrington, Pa.) played a significant role in both contests, knocking in two game-one runs with a third-inning single up the middle and pitching six strong innings for a win in game two.
 
Mansfield University (3-7) turned a leadoff walk and a one-out hit batsman to generate three runs in the first inning of game one, 3-0. Senior Matthew Kress (Lansdale, Pa.) settled in after the rocky first frame, holding the Mountaineers to scoreless over the next four frames. Meanwhile, a leadoff double from senior catcher Eric Gilham (Deptford, N.J.) in the second inning precluded the first Chestnut Hill College (3-9) run. Sophomore centerfielder John Contoudis (Jenkintown, Pa.) followed with a single to short, allowing senior left fielder Franklin Ramirez (Reading, Pa.) to plate a run with a one-out sacrifice fly, 3-1. The Griffins bats continued to hit in the third inning, where six Scarlet and Gold hits and a hit batsman paved the way for a four-run inning. Dietz's singled plated the first two of those four Griffin runs, 3-3; the others came on a double to right field from sophomore right fielder Sam Barletta (Royersford, Pa.), 4-3, and a single through the left side from sophomore shortstop Jared Healey (Philadelphia, Pa.), 5-3. Gilham was 3-for-3, while Dietz and six other Griffins recorded a hit apiece. Kress (1-1) allowed three runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out four over five innings of work. Junior Jerry Mangan (Wayne, Pa.) earned his first save (1) of the season with two innings of scoreless relief.
 
Chestnut Hill College used the momentum to take advantage of a series of Mountaineer mistakes in the first inning of game two. It began with a hard-hit ball by junior third baseman Ameir Uzzell (Levittown, Pa.) as the Mansfield University third baseman rushed the throw over the first to allow the Griffins' leadoff hitter to reach second base. He hustled to third on a wild pitch and scored soon after on an error by the Mountaineer shortstop, 1-0. The rest of the frame followed the same theme as five hits and another error produced six more Chestnut Hill College runs, 7-0. The Scarlet and Gold added a run in the fourth inning with a two-out Ramirez double and two more in the fifth inning with another Mansfield University error and three Griffin hits pushing the difference to 10-0 before a bases-loaded double cleared the bases of Mountaineers in the sixth inning, 10-3. Dietz finished the inning, but handed the ball to sophomore Pat Woltemate (Philadelphia, Pa.) to close out the contest. Healey was 3-for-4 in the affair. Ramirez (2-for-3, R, 3 RBI), freshman second baseman Luke LeBeau (Pittsfield, Mass.) (2-for-4, R), and junior right fielder Zach Szumigala (Fairless Hills, Pa.) (2-for-2, 2R, 1 RBI) recorded two hits apiece. Dietz (1-for-3, R, 2RBI) helped himself with two-run single in the fifth inning. He earned his improved to 2-1 on the season, striking out four Mountaineers while allowing three unearned runs on one hit and two walks.
 
Chestnut Hill College continues a busy weekend tomorrow, Sunday, March 17, with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Lincoln University.