NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College baseball team split with Geneva College at home in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Saturday.
Westminster lost game one, 11-6, however, won the nightcap, 11-10.
In game one, Geneva (14-3, 2-2 PAC) led 3-0 going into the bottom of the third. In the bottom of the third, Westminster (7-6, 2-2 PAC) got on the board after senior
Joseph Salmen (New Castle, PA / Union) doubled to left field, scoring junior
Ernie Burkes (New Castle, PA / Neshannock). The Golden Tornadoes took a 6-1 lead after two runs in the top of the fifth. The Titans matched with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth, cutting Geneva's lead to 6-3; Salmen earned another RBI (off a single) and senior
Brandon Rossier (Wexford, PA / North Allegheny) connected on an RBI-double, bringing home Salmen. Both teams scored a run in the seventh. Rossier brought home the Titans' run with an RBI-single. Geneva added insurance in the top of the eighth inning with four runs and led 11-4. The Titans score two more runs in the bottom of the eighth and had the bases loaded but were unable to erase the deficit. Salmen (1-2) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up seven runs (four earned) off nine hits. He struck out eight and walked four. Geneva outhit Westminster, 14-13. Salmen, Rossier, junior
Dante Parente (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk), and sophomore
Tyler Barnot (Pittsburgh, PA / Bethel Park) each registered a double.
In the nightcap, Geneva took an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the first inning. Westminster tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second; Barnot scored the first run with a single to right field (scoring Parente) and junior
Hunter Alexander (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk) brought home junior
Michael Douds (Erie, PA / Cathedral Prep) with a single. The Titans took their first lead of the doubleheader with three runs in the bottom of the third inning (5-2) after three-straight RBI-singles, courtesy of Barnot, Alexander, and sophomore
Vince Guerrieri (Latrobe, PA / Greater Latrobe). Westminster added four more runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth. Geneva rallied in its last at-bat with eight runs. With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth, sophomore
Jaret Johnson (Niles, OH / Niles McKinley) earned his second save of the season with a strike out to end the inning and the game. Titan junior pitcher
Cory Pullen (Wexford, PA / North Allegheny) improved to 3-1 after throwing 7.0 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. Pullen struck out a career-high nine batters. Guerrieri went 3-for-4 with a team-high 3 RBIs. Rossier now has team-highs in RBIs (18) and doubles (5).
The Titans will next host John Carroll University in a non-conference nine-inning game Tuesday, April 3. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
