NEW CASTLE, Del. - The Thomas Jefferson University baseball team took both games of a doubleheader at conference opponent Wilmington (Del.) on Sunday. The Rams upped their record to 13-7 with a 10-4 CACC mark.
 
GAME ONE - W, 10-7
The Wildcats struck first in the opening frame, scoring on a double. Jefferson took the lead in the second when Efrain Santiago hit an RBI triple and scored on a passed ball. Wilmington went back in front in the bottom half with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
 
A two-run base hit by Nick Wheeler in the third put the Rams ahead again, 4-3, before the Wildcats evened the score in the bottom of the frame with a single. Wilmington took the lead in the fourth with an RBI single through the left side. The Wildcats made it 7-4 with a two-run fifth.
 
In the sixth, Alex Gonzalez singled to right field, scoring Santiago to get Jefferson within two. The Rams then exploded for five runs in the eighth to go in front 10-7. Santiago singled in a run, Chase Fike plated two with a double, Arturo Figueroa hit an RBI infield single, and Fike scored on Ryan Coyle's groundout. Wilmington got the tying run to the plate in the ninth but Matt Bukavich shut the door for his third save.
 
Quick Hits
Nick Wheeler: 1-4, 2 RBI, R, BB
Efrain Santiago: 3-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R
Chase Fike: 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, R
 
GAME TWO - W, 4-3
In the seven-inning affair, it was the Rams who got on the board first, pushing across two runs in the opening frame on a two-run homer by Richard Joa. It remained 2-0 until the sixth when Joa blasted his second two-run shot of the game to make it 4-0. Joa also tossed three scoreless innings on the mound before giving way to Samuel Bass for another two scoreless frames.
 
The Wildcats broke the shutout bid in the seventh, leading off the inning with a home run. Four of the next five hitters reached, including an RBI single, and the score was 4-2 with one out and the bases loaded. A fielder's choice allowed another run to score, making it 4-3, and there were runners at first and third. Down to its final strike, Wilmington lined a pitch right back at Matt Bukavich and the pitcher made an outstanding barehand grab for the final out.
 
Quick Hits
Alex Gonzalez: 2-2, 2B, R
Richard Joa: 2-2, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB, 3.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Dylan Rees: 1-2, R
Samuel Bass: Win, 2.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K
 
NOTES
- It was the Rams' first doubleheader sweep of Wilmington since 2009 and the first all-time on the road.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson hosts Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday, April 20 at 2 p.m.