ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University baseball team opened Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action with a sweep of the doubleheader against Clarks Summit University on Friday afternoon. The Knights won by scores of 8-0 and 6-2.
In the first game,
Grant Wallace pitched a complete game, three hit shutout. He struck out five while walking one over seven innings.
Matt McLaughlin went 3-for-4 and scored two runs.
Jake Urena knocked in three runs.
The Knights scored their runs over the third and sixth innings. With one out in the third inning, McLaughlin singled to start six straight singles for Neumann as it scored three runs in the inning.
In the sixth inning, the Knights sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs. Neumann had five straight hits to start the inning, starting with a double by
Curt Yenchik. With two outs, Urena hit a two-run double as part of the inning.
In game two,
John Schoelkopf had three hits in the game.
Joey Gorman saw time on the mound for the first time this season. He went five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and struck out seven in the no-decision.
Josh Cruz picked up the win out of the bullpen. He went four innings and allowed two runs on three hits and struck out five.
The Defenders scored the first two runs of the game with a pair on the sixth inning. The Knights got one run back in the bottom of the sixth as Schoelkopf led off the inning with a triple and scored on a fielding miscue by the Defenders.
Dan Padilla opened the bottom of the seventh with a pinch-hit double.
Eric Jester came in to pinch-run and scored on a suicide squeeze by McLaughlin.
Andrew La Rosa was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored on a single by
Cody MacNair to give Neumann a 3-2 lead.
The Knights plated three insurance runs in the eighth inning.
Joey Pedorenko led off with a double and scored on a groundout by
Marty Cortellessa. With two outs,
Andrew Fowler extended the inning by reaching on an error. He scored on a double by McLaughlin. McLaughlin scored on a single by La Rosa to cap the scoring.
Neumann (11-11, 2-0 CSAC) will travel to Shenandoah on Sunday for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.