Kutztown, Pa. – (5/1/2019) – The 2019 regular season came to a close today, Wednesday, May 1, for Chestnut Hill College, who visited Kutztown University of an afternoon contest. The Griffins used a four-run first inning to set the tone for the affair as they added three runs in the third inning and one run in the fourth inning to defeat the Golden Bears by an 8-4 measure. Sophomore Andrew Dietz (Warrington, Pa.) not only earned the win (4-3) by holding Kutztown University to two runs on three hits and five walks, but he struck out six and knocked in a pair of runs with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a grounder to short in the third inning.
 
Chestnut Hill College (27-21) jumped all over the first two pitchers Kutztown University (5-30) had to offer as they established a 7-2 lead by the end of the third inning. The Griffins scored four runs in their first at-bat thanks to a leadoff single from junior shortstop Ameir Uzzell (Levittown, Pa.), stolen base, a walk to sophomore catcher Sam Barletta (Royersford, Pa.), a double steal that put both runners in scoring position, a walk to senior first baseman Eric Gilham (Deptford, N.J.), a run-scoring single to right field from sophomore second baseman Jared Healey (Philadelphia, Pa.) (1-0), a wild pitch (2-0), Dietz's sacrifice fly (3-0), and a second wild pitch; 4-0. The Golden Bears got one run back in the bottom of the first frame, 4-1, but it was quickly overshadowed by the Griffins three-run third. There, sophomore centerfielder John Contoudis (Jenkintown, Pa.) led off with a single through the middle. The inning continued with stealing second, advancing to third on a Gilham single, and scoring on a botched fielder's choice by the Kutztown University catcher, 5-1. The next Scarlet and Gold runs scored on a Dietz ground out to short, 6-1, and a single through the middle from senior left fielder Franklin Ramirez (Reading, Pa.), 7-1. Again the Golden Bears responded with a run in the bottom of the frame, 7-2. Contoudis' fourth-inning sacrifice fly made up for that tally, 8-2, but Kutztown University runs in the seventh and eighth innings reduced the final margin to four runs; 8-4.
 
Uzzell and Gilham both went 2-for-4 and score twice. Four others recorded a hit apiece. Behind Dietz sophomore Will Shaffer (Sicklerville, N.J.), senior Dino Cattai (Philadelphia, Pa.), and senior Matthew Kress (Lansdale, Pa.) combined to hold the Golden Bears to one earned run on three hits and a walk, while striking out seven over the final three frames; Shaffer and Kress respectively struck out the side in the seventh and ninth innings.
 
Chestnut Hill College competes next on Saturday, May 4, when they visit #2N Dominican College for a 7:00 p.m. Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Opening Round contest.