PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University baseball team (13-10, 3-0 CACC) scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat conference opponent Wilmington (8-10, 1-1 CACC) by a 5-3 score in the semifinals of the Bill Giles Invitational on Tuesday.
 
The Rams advance to the championship at Citizens Bank Park on April 18^th at 3 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. West Chester and Chestnut Hill square off in the other semifinal on April 5^th. It is the first time since 2013 that Jefferson will compete at the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams combined for just one hit through the first three innings before the Wildcats broke through for a run in the fourth. Wilmington laced an RBI single off the pitcher and took a 1-0 lead.
 
The Rams had only one hit through four frames but the bats got going in the fifth. Justin Espinal doubled with one out and Ryan Coyle followed with a walk to put two men on. Marquise Wood smacked a triple to deep right field to plate both Espinal and Coyle and put Jefferson on top 2-1. Wood then came home on a sacrifice fly by Alex Gonzalez to make the score 3-1.
 
The Wildcats got one run back to start the sixth, leading off with a home run. Wilmington then evened the score in the seventh with the tying run coming home on an error.
 
The Rams took the upper hand for good with a pair of runs in the eighth. Chris McLean led off with a single and Gabe Silva drew a walk. Two wild pitches allowed the runners move up two bases with McLean scoring to put Jefferson in front. Silva later came in to score on a double play. Anthony Pillari took the mound in the ninth and retired the Wildcats in order to earn his third save of the year.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Marquise Wood: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R
Jay Kalieta: 2-for-4
Justin Espinal: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, R
Gabe Silva: 5.0 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K
 
UP NEXT
The Rams and Wildcats complete their season series with a doubleheader at Wilmington on Saturday, April 1^st beginning at 12 p.m.