PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Senior
Jordan Draude went 3 for 4 with a solo homer, a double, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Arcadia University baseball team to a 4-2 victory over Amherst College, which is receiving votes in this week's
D3Baseball.com Poll, Thursday at North Charlotte Regional Park.
FOR THE RECORD: The Knights improved to 9-3 this season, which includes a 5-1 record during its Florida swing. Amherst fell to 1-4 with the loss, it has lost four straight since a season-opening 19-9 win over then No. 14 Keystone College.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Arcadia never trailed in this one, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when sophomore
Bryan Gillen scored from third as sophomore
Luke Hohenstein grounded out to second, and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on Draude's first homerun of the season. The Knights went ahead for good in the seventh when junior
Nick Ponente scored from second on Gillen's single through the left side of the infield, and got an insurance run in the eight on Draude's double to center field that plated senior
Justin Chasmar all the way from first.
Amherst was able to draw even twice in the early stages of the game. Anthony Spina pushed Max Steinhorn home in the bottom of the first to tie it at 1-1, and Ryan Hardy scored on Steinhorn's infield single in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at two.
ON THE HILL: Freshman
Andrew Scholz improved to 2-0 after fanning four of the eight batters he faced in his two innings of relief of classmate
Jeremy Sabathne, who didn't factor in the decision after allowing two runs on six hits with three Ks over the first five innings. Senior
Chris Keesser recorded his third save of the year after stranding two runners in the ninth. Mike Dow (0-1) took the loss for Amherst after allowing one run on two hits in the seventh.
ARCADIA AT BAT: In addition to Draude's performance, Gillen finished the day 2 for 5 with one run scored and another driven in, while Ponente finished 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Chasmar and junior
Nick Cardace were both 2 for 4 on the day.
AMHERST AT BAT: Steinhorn was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Harry Roberson was 3 for 4 with a double.
