BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Philadelphia University baseball team concluded its 2014 regular season with a pair of losses, 9-5 and 7-6, to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opponent Concordia (N.Y.) Monday afternoon.

Philadelphia ends the season with an overall record of 17-23 and a CACC record of 9-11. Concordia improves to 8-21 overall and 4-10 in the conference.

GAME ONE
After a scoreless first two innings, the Rams opened the scoring in the third inning when pitcher Fernando Garza (Laredo, Texas/Alexander) helped his own cause by hitting his first home run of the season, with center fielder Rick Reigner (Havertown, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) and left fielder Shane Yoshiyama (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) on base, to take a 3-0 lead.

Concordia answered back one inning  later with a one-out rally to knock the score at three. Nuni Gunes got the Clippers on the board with a bases-loaded single to drive in Joe Gallub. One batter later, Vincent Capone-Froio delivered a two-run base hit to left to knot the score.

The Concordia offense exploded for six runs in the home half of the fifth inning, five coming with two outs, to move out in front 9-3. After Gallub reached base with a one-out double, Brian Bilello provided the go-ahead hit, a double to left, to plate Gallab and give the Clippers a 4-3 lead. Concordia added to the lead with a Capone-Froio single, Erik Poldroo reaching on an error to bring in a run, a Ryan Roman single, a passed ball, and a base hit by Cristian Florito.

Philadelphia got two runs in the eighth on a Garza single and a fielder's choice by first baseman Jordan Force (East Greenville, Pa./Upper Perkiomen).

Garza led the Rams' offense with two hits and four RBIs, while right fielder Ken McCormick (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) had three hits in four at-bats.

Capone-Froio was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Gallub and Bilello added two hits.

Albert Martucci stuck out six while allowing five runs on eight hits in eight innings to earn the win (2-3). Garza took the loss, giving up seven runs—five earned—on eight hits in 4.2 innings.

GAME TWO
The Rams trailed 5-4 heading into the ninth inning and rallied to keep the game going. Reigner opened the final inning off with a single, was sacrificed to second by third baseman Hunter Greenwood (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett), and advanced to third on a passed ball. Garza was able to bring Reigner home and tie the score at five with a ground to short.

After Force singled and went to second on a error, McCormick came up through with a base hit to put Philadelphia in front.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Clippers had all four hitters who came to the plate reach base to win in a walk-off fashion.

Jason Reyes and Randy Torres opened the last of the ninth off with a single and a walk, respectively. After a wild pitcher allowed the runners to move up 90 feet, Poidroo was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ryan Roman stroked the game-winning single to right to bring home Reyes and Torres.

Designated hitter Hector Gonzalez (Laredo, Texas/United)) was 1-for-4 with two RBIs for Philadelphia. Reigner, Greenwood, McCormick, and catcher TJ Burgmann (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS) all had two hits.

Roman paced the Clippers with three hits and four RBIs. Reyes, Torres, and Mike Manganiello contributed two hits each.

Andrew Worth recorded the final out of the ninth inning to pick up the win (2-2). Relief pitcher Joseph Capparelli (Miami, Fla./Sunset) threw the bottom of the ninth and suffered the loss (1-2).

After Concordia jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, Philadelphia came back with a Gonzalez two-run double in the second and a Force RBI ground out in the third to tie the score.

Roman put Concordia back in the lead with a solo home run to lead off the home half of the third.

Greenwood started off the fifth inning with his first home run of the season to tie the game at four.

Concordia regained the lead on a Roman sacrifice fly in the seventh.