Devils, Thompson Shutout Deacons

Gary Thompson pitched a complete game shutout and Chris Longo drove in three runs as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia won their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opener, defeating Bloomfield College 5-0 this afternoon at Richie Ashburn Field in Philadelphia.

The Devils improve to 3-9 overall and are 1-0 in CACC games. The Deacons fall to 5-12 overall and 0-1 in league play.

Thompson (Fr, Timber Creek HS/Sicklerville, N.J.) allowed just three hits, while striking out 10 batters and walking one in evening his record at 2-2 on the season. USP banged out six hits with Longo’s (Jr., Cherry Hill East HS/Cherry Hill, N.J.) bases-clearing double in the seventh the big blow of the afternoon. Phil Maher (Jr., Norristown HS/Norristown, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Thompson struck out the side in the Deacons half of the first and Maher got the Devils on the board in the bottom half of the inning, leading off with a double and later scoring on a passed ball to give USP a 1-0 lead. Thompson retired the first eight batters he faced until Edwin Pagan singled in the top of the third with two out. The freshman southpaw did not allow another base runner until a seventh inning single by Mike Naples who was erased when Eric Tanis hit into a fielders choice. Tanis was replaced on base by Will Mendez who was thrown out trying to steal second to eliminate any further Bloomfield threat.

Justin DeVincenzo (Sr., Bishop Hoban HS/Plains, Pa.) hit a one out single in the bottom of the seventh to set the table for the Devils. Michael Curry (Jr., St. Pius X HS/Collegeville, Pa.) and Ryan Challender (Fr., G.A.M.P./ Upper Darby, Pa.) were hit by pitches to load the bases before DeVincenzo was forced out at home on Chris Pino's (Jr., Hazleton Area HS/West Hazleton, Pa.) fielder's choice. Longo then delivered a long double, clearing the bases to give the Devils a 4-0. Longo then stole third but was thrown out at the plate when a pitch by Bloomfield's Joseph O'Donnell got away from the catcher but not far enough as O'Donnell was able to tag Longo out at the plate to end the inning.

After Thompson pitched out of trouble in the top of the eighth (a double, walk and a balk), Michael DeVincenzo (Sr., Bishop Hoban HS/Plains, Pa.) gave the Devils an added insurance run with a two-out single up the middle scoring Maher, who singled two batters earlier. Thompson then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth, striking out Mendez for his tenth strikeout of the afternoon to end the game.