ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University Baseball team, in their last home game of the season, upended the Centenary University Cyclones, 14-12, in the opener of an Atlantic East Conference three-game series.
Shawn Vega and
Nick Glebocki each went 3 for 4, Glebocki adding two doubles, two walks, two RBI, and three runs scored. Vega had a double as well with a stolen base, an RBI, and two runs scored.
Chris Balshuweit and
Andrew Curran each went 2 for 4 as Balshuweit scored four runs and drove in one. Curran drove in two and scored one.
Josh Finger was 2 for 5 with a double.
The offense got rolling for Neumann with one out in the first as Balshuweit singled up the middle. Vega hit a double into left and pushed Balshuweit to third. Curran walked to load the bases and
Brandon Colon drove in the game's first run on a fielder's choice.
Isaiah Payton hit an RBI double down the left field line,
Thomas Elgrim hit an RBI infield single, and
Morgan D'Amico hit an RBI double, giving the Knights a 4-0 lead.
Centenary started to chip away in the top of the second, using a two-run double and an RBI single to pull within one. In the bottom of the inning, Finger led off with a single and Glebocki drove him home with a double to left-center. After a pitching change, Balshuweit hit an RBI double to push the lead to three. Vega was hit by a pitch and stole second, then B. Colon walked to set up a sacrifice fly by Payton, scoring Balshuweit, giving the Knights a 7-3 lead.
Again, the Cyclones responded when, in the top of the third, they got a two-run single and an RBI double to pull reach within one. In the top of the fifth, Centenary took their first lead of the lead, thanks to three straight RBI singles. They added another run in the sixth after a throwing error, and they had a 10-7 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, it was Neumann's turn to come back as Finger doubled to right-center and scoring on a Glebocki RBI double. Balshuweit followed with a walk and Vega hit a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. Curran singled through the right side to drive in Glebocki and B. Colon hit a sacrifice fly to even the game at 10 apiece.
Centenary retook the lead in the seventh on a run-scoring wild pitch but the Knights struck again after the stretch. With two away, Glebocki singled and Balshuweit walked. Vega plated Glebocki then Curran brought in Balshuweit. B. Colon closed the inning's scoring with a two-run double, and Neumann led 14-11. Although, the Cyclones scored in the top of the ninth, they would come no closer.
Aidan Jackson earned his first collegiate win in 1.1 innings in relief. He allowed just one hit, one walk, and one hit-by-pitch to improve to 1-0. Balshuweit came in from right field to get the last five outs. He gave up a run on two hits while striking out three for his second save.
Neumann (17-20, 7-9 Atlantic East) will head up to New Jersey to close out the regular season with a doubleheader against the Cyclones, needing just one win to earn an Atlantic East Conference playoff berth. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
