AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Westminster College baseball team split with Medaille College in a non-conference doubleheader at the RussMatt Invitational Friday afternoon.

The Titans won game one, 12-5, and lost game two, 8-5.

In game one, Westminster (4-3) was down, 1-0, going into the bottom of the third inning. Senior Joseph Salmen (New Castle, PA / Union) started the scoring for the Titans with two outs as he put Westminster in front, 2-1, after a two-run single to left field. Senior Brandon Rossier (Wexford, PA / North Allegheny) followed with a two-run double, extending the Titans' lead to 4-1. The Titans added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning as sophomore Tyler Barnot (Pittsburgh, PA / Bethel Park) scored on a passed ball and junior Hunter Alexander (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk) connected on an RBI-single. Medaille (6-4) cut the Titans' lead to 6-4 after putting up three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Westminster, however, quickly matched with three runs of its own in the top of the fifth, starting with Salmen who tripled to left field. Rossier brought home Salmen with a double. Three batters later, sophomore Connor Cox (Ridge, MD / Leonardtown) delivered on a two-out two-run double, putting the Titans ahead, 9-4. The Mavericks scored their last run in the bottom of the fifth and the Titans added more insurance with a three-run sixth inning; junior Michael Douds (Erie, PA / Cathedral Prep) registered a two-run single, while junior Dante Parente (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk) added an RBI-single. For the game, five Titans had multiple hits, led by Salmen who went 3-for-4. Rossier totaled two doubles. Sophomore Jaret Johnson (Niles, OH / Niles McKinley) earned his first win of the season after pitching six innings and giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits. He struck out four and walked none.  

The Mavericks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning and never lost it for the remainder of the contest. Salmen continued his performance at the plate with an RBI-triple in the third inning, scoring Westminster's first run of the contest. Medaille extended its lead, 4-1, with two runs in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, junior Dante Parente (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk) belted a solo home run, the first of his collegiate career, over the left field fence, cutting Medaille's lead to 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Rossier singled home junior Ernie Burkes (New Castle, PA / Neshannock), narrowing the margin to 4-3. Westminster had the bases loaded in the fifth, but was unable to get any more runs across the plate. The Mavericks pulled away with a four-run sixth inning, to take an 8-3 lead. After scoring one in the sixth, the Titans managed to score one more run in the seventh as Barnot grounded in Salmen. The Titans had the tying run at the plate with runners on the corners, but were unable to erase the three-run deficit. Junior Cody Acon (Industry, PA / Western Beaver) (0-1) pitched four innings, while giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits. Acon struck out three and walked one. Both teams registered nine hits. Salmen went 3-for-3, while Rossier went 2-for-4. Rossier now leads the team with 12 RBIs.

The Titans will close out their RussMatt Invitational trip on Saturday, March 10 with a doubleheader against Stockton University. The first game is set for 9 a.m.