Just as they did last season as the #4 seed from the west, the Griffins knocked off the top seed in the east, West Chester to open the PSAC Baseball Championships in Johnstown, PA.  The Griffins got three runs in the top of the first inning and that would be all that they would need in an 8-1 opening round victory over the Rams.  SHU is now 28-20 on the season while the Rams fall to 31-14. 

It did not take the Griffins long to jump on the Rams.  Three batters into the contest, the Griffins led 3-0.  Tyler Sullivan reached on an error to open the game.  Chris Law singled to put runners on first and second and Tom McCarthy followed with a blast over the wall in left field on the first pitch he saw to give SHU the quick 3-0 lead.

SHU added another run in the top of the second inning.  With an out, Colton Carney doubled.  He later scored when Sullivan reached on an error to give SHU a 4-0 lead. 

Griffin starter Perry DellaValle was cruising thru the first five innings as he held the Rams off the scoreboard.  From the second to fifth inning, Dellavalle faced the minimum and allowed just one hit.  He struck out five over those four innings.

West Chester scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning.  The Griffins got that run right back in the seventh inning when Mark Colella drew a bases loaded walk.

The Griffins put the game away with three runs in the top of the eighth inning.  Carney walked to lead off the inning.  Garret Vrbanic was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.  Sullivan walked to load the bases and Law followed with a two run single.  Ryan Grieco made it 8-1 with a sacrifice fly. 

Dellavalle earned the win going 6.2 innings.  He gave up one run on seven hits while striking out seven.  Michael Bryja threw a scoreless 2.1 innings to record the save.  Law led the Griffins at the plate, going 4-4.

SHU moves on to the second round where they will meet Bloomsburg in a winners bracket contest at 3:30 PM on Thursday afternoon.