Front Royal, VA – Christendom College (3-8) splits double header with ESAC rival Central Penn (8-4) on Sunday, April 7th on a beautiful day at Bing Crosby Stadium.
Game 1 - The Crusaders took an early first inning lead going up 2-0 after Joe Romero's (Freshman/ San Diego, CA) RBI single. On the mound for Christendom was senior Thomas Sullivan (Omaha, NE) who tossed two scoreless innings to open the game, avoiding threats from Central Penn in both innings. In the third inning after the Knights loaded the bases, they managed a run on a sac fly, cutting the Crusader's lead in half. The laborious innings continued for Sullivan as the Knights threated again in the fourth inning. After a two out double which scored 3 runs, Central Penn jumped to a 4-2 lead over the Crusaders. Freshman Will Coleman (Milwaukee, WI) entered the game in the fifth in relief of Sullivan. The Crusaders would score a couple late inning runs in the sixth but this was no answer to the 7 runs scored by the Knights. Central Penn capitalized on the walks issued by the Christendom pitching staff throughout the game. They would go on to cruise to a 11-4 win over the Crusaders.
Leading the way offensively for Christendom was Joe Romero who collected two hits, two RBIs and scored a run of his own.
Game 2 – Romero took the mound for the Crusaders in game two. He had an outstanding start to the game breezing through Central Penn's lineup in the first two innings. Christendom's offense posted a run in the second after a clutch two out RBI single off the bat of Anthony Pegis (Freshman/ Front Royal, VA). Romero remained dominant on the mound taking a scoreless outing through the fifth inning. In the bottom half of the fifth, Pegis again gave the Crusaders another run, this time with a sac fly to left field. Christendom took a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning with Romero still on the mound. The Knights, however, finally tagged Romero for a 2-run homer to deep right center. Just like that, the game was tied at 2 entering the seventh. Junior, John Skuba (Sugar Loaf, PA), took over in relief on the mound and after closing out the sixth, he kept the game tied with an additional two perfect innings. In the bottom of the eighth, after great at bats from Gus Coleman (Freshman/Milwaukee, WI) and Will Reese (Junior/ Manassas, VA), the Crusaders loaded the bases. The Knights made a pitching change but a passed ball aloud Luke Roman (Sophomore/Atlanta, GA) to sprinted home for the winning run. The Crusaders walked off, finishing the day with a 3-2 victory.
Without a doubt Christendom's pitching gave them the win over the Knights. Romero tossed 5-innings allowing only 2 runs. He gave up just three hits and stuck out 3. His quality performance was followed by John Skuba who closed the game with three scoreless and hitless innings, racking up 4 K's. Pegis shined offensively for the Crusaders as he delivered both of Christendom's regulation runs going 1-2 on the day.
Next Up – Christendom Baseball hosts Penn State Schuylkill on Wednesday, April 10th in a USCAA a double header.