AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Julio Acosta (Elizabeth, N.J./Hudson Catholic) delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the top of the 10th inning to lift Keystone College past Fontbonne University 12-10 in extra innings on Tuesday in the Giants' opening game of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
The victory snapped a five-game losing skid for Keystone, as the Giants move to 2-5 and will take on La Roche University (0-3) tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. The Griffins fall to 3-6 and will take on Trine University (2-5) on Thursday.
With the contest tied at 10-all, Acosta came through in the top of the 10th with a two-out, two-run single to left field to score RJ Gouldsbury (Throop, Pa./Mid Valley) and JD Barrett (Moosic, Pa./Dallas), giving Keystone a 12-10 edge. In the bottom of the frame, Fontbonne threatened with bases loaded and two outs, but the Giants were able to shut the door.
Acosta finished the day 2-for-3 with four RBI and two walks. Barrett enjoyed a 3-for-6 outing with four runs scored while Gouldsbury went 2-for-5 with three runs and a solo homer to center in the third.
Evan Fallwell (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino) launched a grand slam to left in the fifth to give Keystone an 8-4 lead. Vince Montone (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) drew four walks while Montone and Pedro Abreu (Bronx, N.Y./Santa Teresa) each drove in one run. Bobby Pokorney (Margate, Fla./J.P. Taravella) enjoyed a 2-for-4 outing at the dish.
Isaac Neal (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) - the CSAC Pitcher of the Week - earned the victory in relief, as the righty tossed the final 1.2 innings, giving up just one run while forcing two flyouts and two groundouts.
Julian Gonzalez (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) earned the starting nod and tossed 4.1 innings with six groundouts and five flyouts. Brandon Valles (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) threw four frames in relief with two strikeouts.
For the Griffins, Colby Shivers and Thomas Purschke combined for seven RBI.
Keystone jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, capped off with an Acosta RBI. Fontbonne answered with a four-run second before the Giants reclaimed the lead thanks to the Gouldsbury and Fallwell homers.
The Griffins scored twice in the fifth to take a 10-8 lead before another Acosta RBI and a run on an error knotted the game up at 10-10.
Earlier in the day, Keystone defeated Fontbonne 8-7 in JV action.
