Box Score

LA PLUME, Pa. – The Neumann University baseball team defeated Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Keystone College 5-4 with a two-run ninth inning homerun by Bill Pace on Friday after in conference play.

This is the first time that Neumann has defeated Keystone under the direction of head coach John Fleming. The Giants have won the past two CSAC Conference titles.

Pace hit a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth inning to put Neumann up by a 5-4 score and get the eventual win. Pace finished the game 3-for-5 and scored three runs.

The Knights took advantage of five Giant errors en route to their five runs. Kevin Flanigan scored the first run of the game when Bobby Callan reached first on an error. Keystone would knot the game at one with an unearned run in the bottom of the second.

Pace would scored the second Knights run of the game in the top of the third. Pace would score again in the fifth for a 3-1 Neumann lead.

Keystone would plate a run in the fifth and the two in the bottom of the eighth for a 4-3 lead heading into the ninth inning.

In the home half of the ninth, Nick Martin reached base on an error with one out. That set up for Pace to hit the two-run shot to left field for the 5-4 lead. Erik Klimoff came on in the bottom of the ninth inning. He allowed one hit, but retired the side without allowing a run to preserve the 5-4 win for the Knights.

Matthew Smith started the game for Neumann and went 7.1 innings. He allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits and struck out four. Brendan Melody went 0.2 innings and picked up the win.

Neumann improves to 18-3, 2-2 in the conference. Keystone is now 8-7, 2-1 in the CSAC. The two teams will meet again tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. on the campus of Neumann University.