ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University Baseball team earned an exciting home-opening win against Eastern University on Tuesday afternoon by a final score of 6-5.
 
Tyler Kilmer led the Knights, hitting 2 for 3 with two doubles, a hit-by-pitch, two runs batted in, and a run scored. Andrew Brown was 2 for 5 with a home run and AJ Nardo reached base five times, going 3 for 3 with two walks, a stolen base, and two RBI. Kaden Netta earned the win with a strong 5.2 innings pitch. He allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out three.
 
After a scoreless first, Eastern struck in the second on an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Andrew Brown was able to tie the game in the top of the fourth with a solo home run over the left field wall, his first of the season. Josh Finger followed with a walk and moved to third on a Thomas Carroll single down the line. After Chris Balshuweit walked to load the bases, Kilmer drove in two with a double to right. Two batters later, Nardo drove in two more with a single for a 5-1 Knights lead.
 
Eastern chipped away at the lead in the top of the sixth thanks to an RBI single, an RBI double, and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, pulling the Eagles within one. Donovan Brooks led off the bottom of the inning with a single. After Nardo walked, Brooks moved to third on a fly ball. Joe Boccio followed with a push bunt to first, and although he was tagged out, Brooks scored for a 6-4 lead.
 
With one out in the eighth, Eastern got back within one with a solo home run to left. In the ninth, the Eagles put a scare into the Knights by loading the bases with two away. With Colin Porter in to pitch, Eastern hit a fly ball deep to left field. JerVal Shuler chased it all the way to the wall, reached up, and snagged it to rob Eastern of a grand slam, and secure the victory for the Knights. Porter was credited with his first save of the season.
 
Neumann (4-2) will have a short turnaround as they host Alvernia University on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 PM.