AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Westminster College baseball team split a doubleheader with Martin Luther College at the RussMatt Invitational on Monday.
Westminster (2-2) won game one with two runs in the sixth inning, 7-5. The Titans started fast with a five-run first inning, with runs scored on RBI-singles by juniors
Tyler Barnot (Pittsburgh, PA / Bethel Park) and
Jaret Johnson (Niles, OH / Niles McKinley), a two-run double from junior
Frank Cinicola (Cranberry Township, PA / Seneca Valley), and junior
Dante Parente (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk) scoring on a wild pitch. Martin Luther (2-6) would tie the game with five runs of its own in the top of the fifth. Westminster would take the lead and hold onto it after the first and only Titan extra-base hit of the game - a bases-loaded two-out double by first-year
Seth Schrader (Fredonia, NY / Fredonia). Schrader finished the game reaching base in every plate appearance, going 1-for-1 with a double, three walks, a run, two stolen bases, and two RBIs. Cinicola also recorded two RBIs with a hit and a run. Johnson led the Titans in hits with two, adding in a run and an RBI. Titan starting first-year pitcher
Matt Costello (New Castle, PA / Union Area) received a no-decision, pitching four and a third innings, giving up three runs on three hits and five walks, while striking out three. Junior
Dante Sienko (Wexford, PA / Pine-Richland) earned the win pitching two and two thirds innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one.
In game two, Martin Luther got off to a big start with a six-run first inning. The Knights added nine runs in the third inning, three in the fourth, and one in the fifth. The Titans put together a big five-run fourth inning after back-to-back-to-back doubles by Barnot (one-run), Parente (two-run), and Cinicola (one-run) and a sac-fly by first-year
Brandon Cooper (Oakdale, PA / West Allegheny). However, it was not enough, with Martin Luther winning 19-5. Parente and Cinicola each finished 2-for-3 with a double, a run, and two and one RBIs, respectively. Barnot also finished with a run and RBI. Westminster starting first-year pitcher
Logan Minch (Grove City, PA / Grove City Area) pitched two-thirds of an inning, while giving up six runs on three hits and three walks.
The Titans will continue their Florida trip as they play Olivet College in a single game Wednesday, March 13 at 3:00.
*Written by Kevin Hart '20
