Devils Sweep Clippers to Open CACC Play

The University of the Sciences men's baseball team opened their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference portion of their schedule in a different manner than years past on Saturday by winning their first two conference games of the season.  The Devils defeated Concordia College 7-3 and 4-1 at Clipper Field in Bronxville, New York. 

The two wins improve the Devils overall record to 3-7 and their CACC record to 2-0.  It is the first time since the Devils joined the CACC in 1999 that they have won their first two conference games.  Sciences also last won a conference opener in 2009 but lost their next game.   It is also the first time the Devils have swept a conference doubleheader since they defeated Post University in April of 2006. 

Pitching was the name of the game on this afternoon as the Devils got quality outings from both starters.  Dan McMahon (Millville HS/Millville, N.J.) pitched the opener, going seven innings and allowing just five hits and one run while striking out seven to earn his second win of the season.  Luke Peyton (Haddonfield HS/Haddonfield, N.J.) pitched the first six innings of the nightcap, allowing one run on two hits while striking out nine.  Greg Nealis (Episcopal Academy/Drexel Hill, Pa.) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings of the second game to earn his first save of the season. 

On the offensive side, the Devils scored four times in the sixth inning of the first game to take control, 4-0. Two-out singles by Will Rebman (Towanda HS (Pa.)/Cape Coral, Fla.) and Pete LaRocco (Gloucester Catholic HS/Sewell, N.J.) and thenMark Perry(Toms River South HS/Toms River, N.J.) getting hit by a pitch loaded the bases.  Dennis Murphy (St. Joseph Prep HS (Pa.)/Mullica Hill, N.J.) then delivered a single down the left field line to score the two lead runners.  Perry also scored as the Concordia left fielder mishandled the ball as Murphy chugged into third taking full advantage of the two-base error. Kyle Davis (Garnet Valley HS/Garnet Valley, Pa.) then doubled to score Murphy with the fourth USciences run. 

The Clippers got one back in the bottom of the inning as T.J. Walsh doubled with two out, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a balk by McMahon. Concordia made it a one run game as they scored two unearned runs off Michael Croft (Franklin Towne Charter HS/Philadelphia, Pa.) in the eighth inning on Chris Rutigliano's two out two-RBI single. 

The Devils rounded out their scoring with a three-spot in the ninth as Davis scored on a bases loaded wild pitch followed by Lou Tomasetti (Monsignor Bonner HS/Drexel Hill, Pa.) on a bases loaded walk to Nick Szalejko (Archbishop Carroll HS/Norristown, Pa.).  Rebman then singled to bring home Jeff Murtha (LaSalle College HS/Worcester, Pa.) with the final USciences run. 

In the second game, it was the Clippers who struck first as Jason Berrios led off the bottom of the first with a walk, stole second and later scored following two consecutive infield groundouts.  Davis' sacrifice fly in the top half of the fourth evened the score at 1-1 and Sciences took a 3-1 lead with two more in the seventh both as a result of errors.  Davis singled to start the inning and later scored as the Clippers rightfielder misplayed a single by Connor Lennox (Avon Grove HS/Landenberg, Pa.) who wound up on third.  Two batters later Lennox scored on an infield error.  Lennox later drove in the Devils fourth run on a fielder's choice, plating Davis. 

Nealis, in his second full inning of relief walked two batters in the ninth and the Clippers loaded the bases before Nealis struck out John Pliego to end the game and pick up the save, the first of his college career. 

The Devils return to action on Sunday with a non-conference doubleheader at Millersville University.