PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University baseball team finished the regular season on Sunday with a doubleheader sweep of city rival USciences at Alumni Field. The Rams head into the CACC Tournament with a 21-10 overall record. They end the conference slate with an 18-7 mark.
 
Jefferson will wait for the rest of the conference schedule to play out over the coming days. However, the Rams can finish no lower than second in the South Division and will host a quarterfinal game on Monday, May 10 against an opponent to be determined.
 
GAME ONE – W, 14-4 (8 inn.)
Jefferson got on the board quickly with a three-run first inning. Richard Joa recorded a sacrifice fly, Efrain Santiago singled in a run, and Zack Austin drove in one with a base hit. Joa increased the lead to 4-0 with an RBI single in the second.
 
The Rams pushed across three more runs in the third. With the bases loaded, Alex Gonzalez was hit by a pitch then Ryan Coyle drew a walk, bringing in a pair. Joa then picked up his third RBI of the game on an infield fly.
 
Meanwhile, Jem Sisco was dealing on the mound for Jefferson, allowing just three baserunners on an error and two hit by pitches through five innings. However, the Devils broke up the no-hit bid and the shutout with a leadoff home run in the sixth. After a walk, another homer made the score 7-3. Jefferson responded with two runs in the bottom half on a Ryan Sawyer sac fly and a wild pitch.
 
In the seventh, Gonzalez singled in a run and Coyle followed with a sacrifice fly to up the margin to eight (11-3). After USciences knocked in a run in the eighth, the Rams produced three runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game early due to the conference mercy rule. Austin singled through the left side and Santiago scored, and CJ Goodz doubled in Austin then scored on an error.
 
Quick Hits
Alex Gonzalez: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Ryan Coyle: 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 R
Richard Joa: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R
Zack Austin: 3-5, 2 RBI, R
Dylan Rees: 2-3, 3 R, BB
 
GAME TWO – W, 8-4
In the seven-inning contest, USciences got off to a hot start, scoring three runs in the opening frame. The Devils benefitted from an RBI single, an error, and a fielder's choice. The Rams got two back in the bottom half on a two-run homer by Richard Joa.
 
Jefferson took the lead with two runs in the third. Joa drove in the tying run with a single and Ryan Sawyer blasted a go-ahead homer to left center. USciences promptly evened the score at four with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Rams took the advantage for good with three runs. Arturo Figueroa singled in Zack Austin, Figueroa came home on a base hit by Alex Gonzalez, and Ryan Coyle plated Gonzalez with a base hit. Jefferson added an insurance run in the sixth on a squeeze play.
 
Quick Hits
Alex Gonzalez: 2-3, RBI, 3 R
Ryan Coyle: 1-2, RBI
Richard Joa: 2-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
Ryan Sawyer: 1-3, HR, RBI, R
Arturo Figueroa: 1-3, RBI, R
Matt Bukavich: Save, 3.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K
 
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the twin bill, the Rams honored seniors Richard Joa, Gunnar Hayes, Nick Wheeler, Austin Torres, Jack Galligan, Jabari Cox, David Wilson, and Daniel Sabath.