On a Sunday that delivered just about everything but a rain delay, Holy Family found a way to punch back. After No. 14 Jefferson flexed its national muscle with a 14-8 comeback win in game one, the Tigers flipped the script in game two, riding Marc Garcia’s complete-game brilliance and a second Andy Rivera homer to an emphatic 11-1 win.
It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
Garcia, a righty from Coatesville, was nails—again. For the second straight outing, he went the distance, scattering four hits and surrendering only one run, a seventh-inning blemish on an otherwise spotless afternoon. Oh, and he chipped in at the plate, too—2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored, and a walk in the opener. Just another day at the office.
Rivera, meanwhile, brought the thunder. The junior slugger went deep in both games, including a three-run blast that opened the scoring in game two. That shot came just three batters into the bottom of the first and set the tone for a Tigers lineup that wasn’t about to be swept on its home turf.
Brian Comer reached base three times in each game, finishing the doubleheader 5-for-8 with six RBIs, three runs scored, and a couple of walks. Torin McKenzie added a 3-for-4 effort in the nightcap, doubling and driving in a run as part of a four-run second that gave Holy Family all the separation it needed.
As for game one? Holy Family led 3-1, then 7-3, only to watch Jefferson claw back and eventually break an 8-8 tie with a six-run ninth. Rivera’s seventh-inning homer tied things up, but the Rams—ranked 14th in the country for a reason—found just enough late to steal it.
Still, for Holy Family, Sunday’s split felt like more than just one win. Against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Tigers didn’t just compete—they answered.
Back on the field and looking to build momentum, No. 14/21 West Chester rolled into Shepherdstown on Sunday eyeing a strong start to a key PSAC East series. Instead, the Golden Rams found themselves on the wrong end of a doubleheader sweep.
Shepherd took the opener in a pitcher’s duel, edging West Chester 2-1, then broke open the nightcap with a five-run fourth inning en route to an 8-2 win. It marked just the second time this season the Golden Rams have dropped both games of a twin bill.
West Chester, now 26-9 overall and 8-6 in conference play, managed just three runs across the two games, running into a pair of strong Shepherd arms and timely hitting from the Rams, who improved to 18-17 (6-8 PSAC).
The Golden Rams currently sit in the third spot in the PSAC Eastern division. The top four seeds advance to the conference playoff. The club will face first-place Millersville in an important four-game set later this month.
Winning Streak
Chestnut Hill was idle this weekend, but the Griffins have won seven-straight are currently sitting comfortably in the fourth spot in the CACC with a five-game lead over Holy Family for the final playoff berth. The club is back in action on Tuesday with a doubleheader on the road at Bridgeport.
