May 5, 2018

Arcadia, back-to back MAC Commonwealth champs

More news about: Arcadia

YORK, Pa. - The No. 2 Arcadia baseball team won the MAC Commonwealth Championship Saturday evening, taking down No. 3 Hood, 25-12. The Knights become the first team since 2011-12 Messiah to win back-to-back conference titles in the MAC Commonwealth. Junior Bryan Gillen was named MAC Commonwealth Championship Tournament MVP.
 
With the win, Arcadia earns a bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. The regional pairings will be announced in the evening on Sunday May 13.
 
FOR THE RECORD:

  • Arcadia moves to 29-13 overall.
  • Hood drops to 32-11 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • The Knights jumped out to a huge lead in the first inning, scoring nine runs. While six different players registered an RBI, junior Luke Hohenstein capped the scoring efforts with a three-run home run over the towering left field fence. The fence stands in excess of 37 feet, being exactly eight inches taller than Fenway Park's Green Monster.
  • The Blazers got on the board, scoring one run in the bottom of the second. Arcadia was consistent at the plate, adding two runs in the second, third and fourth innings respectively, holding a 15-1 lead.
  • Hood was resilient, battling back to score nine unanswered runs over the fourth and sixth innings to cut the deficit to five, 15-10.
  • The Scarlet and Grey opened the gates in the seventh inning, scoring another four runs to put itself up, 19-10. The inning started with back-to-back solo shots by juniors Sean Carew and Phil Pierfy. Junior Nick Ponente added an RBI triple to the mix, scoring senior Drew Coisson.
  • Arcadia added an additional six runs over the final two innings to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

  • Gillen ended the game going 4-for-5 with two RBIs, four runs scored and a double.
  • Hohenstein had a game high five RBIs, including the three-run shot, while scoring twice.
  • Pierfy was 3-of-7 with the solo shot, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored.
  • Carew finished 4-for-6 with the solo blast, one RBI and four runs scored.
  • Ponente hit .500 on the game, with three hits, four RBIs, and two runs.
  • Junior Nick Cardace had a solid game as the designated hitter. The Freehold, N.J. native went 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. 

ON THE MOUND:

  • Sophomore Andrew Scholz had the start, going 3.1 innings, striking out three.
  • Senior Connor Laigiae (2-1) came on in relief earning the win, pitching 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. His outing was the longest of his career, surpassing his total in last year's championship winning game against Alvernia.

GAME NOTES:

  • The Knights 25 runs scored is the most in a MAC Championship game. The combined 37 runs, also set the record for most total runs in a MAC Championship game.
  • Arcadia's 29 wins is the second most in program history, behind last year's 33.
  • This will be the programs third appearance ever in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
  • In the last calendar year, Arcadia as a whole has had three conference champions (2017 baseball, 2017 women's soccer, 2018 baseball) and two runner ups (women's volleyball, men's volleyball), with the chance to add another as softball takes on Messiah tomorrow in the MAC Commonwealth Championship round.

UP NEXT:

  • The Knights round out the schedule with two non-conference game this upcoming week before they head to the NCAA Tournament.