Wednesday night's baseball game against Kutztown University marked the ninth time this season that the Chestnut Hill college baseball team has played a one-run game. It also marked the fifth time that the Griffins were on the short end of the result as Chestnut Hill dropped a 7-6 decision to the Golden Bears at Hostelley Field in North Wales.
The Griffins fall to 14-23 with the loss. The Golden Bears improve to 23-13.
Justin Geiger and Nate O'Donnell had two hits apiece while John Crane and David Antone each drove in two runs. Ahmaad Goldson hit his sixth home run of the season and Eli Meredith had an RBI double.
Kade Breisblatt took the loss pitching four innings in relief and allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out four.
Kutztown scored their only run off starter Jake Schweiker in the first inning on a one-out bases-loaded ground ball by Jimmy Kerley who just managed to beat out the throw to first on what could have been an inning ending double play, allowing the KU runner from to score.
The Griffins plated two runs in their half of the first as Antone delivered a two-out bases loaded single up the middle to score Geiger and Ruben Pichardo who started the inning with two-out back-to back singles before Brendan Long walked to load the bases.
The Golden Bears added two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead with the Griffins getting one back in the bottom of the fourth on Meredith's two-out double to left field. Single runs by KU in the fifth and sixth innings pushed their lead to 7-3.
In the sixth inning, O'Donnell reached on an infield error and hustled his way to second base. Crane followed with a single to centerfield, scoring O'Donnell and making the score 7-4.
Goldson led off the eighth inning with a solo home run, his sixth four-bagger of the season. Greg Sylvester was then hit by a pitch and O'Donnell singled with both runners later advancing on a wild pitch. Crane then produced his second RBI of the game with and infield groundout to the first baseman to pull the Griffins within one, 7-6
Kutztown pitcher Gavin Moretski retired the Griffins in order in the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season. Gavin Grande earned the win for KU pitching the three middle innings.
The baseball team returns to action at Hostelley field on Friday, April 21, 2023 with a non-conference game against Bloomsburg University. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
