A five-run fourth inning provided the catalyst as the Chestnut Hill College Baseball team overcame a 5-1 deficit to rally and beat area rival Jefferson University 7-6 Tuesday afternoon at Hostelley Field in North Wales, Pennsylvania.

With the win the Griffins improve to 12-18 overall and 6-5 in Central Atlantic collegiate conference games.  The Rams fall to 16-14 overall and 5-4 in league play.

The five run rally made Brendan Long the winning pitcher as he upped his record to 2-3 on the season.  Long gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out three.  Marlon Rose came in with two runners on and nobody out in the ninth inning and shut the door to earn his third save of the season.

The Rams opened up a 5-1 lead, scoring two runs in the top half of the fourth all without the benefit of a hit. Meanwhile the Griffins, heading into the fourth inning, were held hitless by Rams' pitcher Gabe Silva but had several baserunners as Silva walked five and hit one batter to this point.  CHC scored their lone run at this point on a throwing error by the Jefferson catcher attempting to pickoff Greg Sylvester at third base.

RJ Huth walked and stole second to start the fourth inning. Sylvester then delivered the Griffins first hit; an RBI single up the middle.  Silva then walked Nate O'Donnell, prompting a pitching change.  Shawn Levan was new pitcher Abi Sosa's first batter as he attempted to sacrifice the two runners into scoring position.  However, the Rams catcher made his second error of the game and Levan was safe at first loading the bases with nobody out.

The error opened the flood gates as Sosa walked Eli Meredith to bring home another run and Andrew Sawarynski hit a long sacrifice fly to left field to score O'Donnell, bringing the Griffins within one, 5-4.  Meredith stole second and Ahmaad Goldson walked to again load the bases.  David Antone then delivered a bouncing single through the left side as the runners were in motion, scoring Meredith and Levan for a 6-5 Griffins lead.

Long held the Rams scoreless in his remaining two innings on the mound.  The Griffins' offense, meanwhile, added a key insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Justin Geiger delivered a one out single through the right side that scored Meredith and gave CHC a 7-5 lead.

Mike Kiefer pitched a scoreless seventh inning and Jake Schweiker threw just five pitches to retire the Rams in the eighth, getting a great double play from his defense after allowing a one-out single, ending the inning.

Schweiker struggled a bit in the ninth, walking and hitting a Rams batter to put two runners on and nobody out.  Rose entered the game and got the first out on a sacrifice as the two Jefferson runners moved into scoring position.  A walk loaded the bases and an infield groundout scored Jefferson's sixth run, pulling the Rams within one 7-6.  Rose then got Marquise Wood to loft a fly ball to center field where Huth was there to make the catch and end the game, giving the Griffins their first win in six games against their area rival.

Chestnut Hill had just four hits but were patient at the plate as they drew ten walks on the afternoon.

The Griffins' baseball team returns to action on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, for a divisional crossover doubleheader at Dominican University.  These games were originally scheduled for April 6 but were postponed due to weather conditions.  First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.