NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College baseball team defeated Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Bethany College, 12-11, at home Sunday afternoon.

Bethany College (24-13, 14-10 PAC) kicked off the scoring in the top of the first with a three-run home run by Kiefer Bishop. Westminster (13-20, 8-13 PAC) answered in the bottom of the first with a three-run inning, capped off by a sacrifice fly by junior Jaret Johnson (Niles, OH / Niles McKinley) to tie the game at three. In the third, Bethany scored four runs to break the tie, then added another in the fourth inning to take an 8-3 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, the Titans came back to take the lead, scoring seven runs, all of which came with two outs. Junior Tyler Barnot (Pittsburgh, PA / Bethel Park) was the one to give the Titans the lead with a two-RBI single and freshman Mike Grazier (Austintown, OH / Austintown-Fitch) knocked in Barnot with an RBI-double to bring the score to 10-8. The Bison cut the Titans' lead down to one in the top of the eighth (10-9). The Titans added two insurance runs on a single by senior Dante Parente (Beaver Falls, PA / Blackhawk) to give the Titans a 12-9 lead entering the final frame. Bethany scored two in the top of the ninth, but with runners on second and third with one out, Titan junior Dante Sienko (Wexford, PA / Pine-Richland) shut the door with two strikeouts to record his first save of the season.

Titan freshman Dawson Porter (Kittaning, PA / Armstrong) tallied a game-high four hits, his second-straight four-hit game and extended his hitting streak to ten games. Porter also led the Titans with three runs and two RBIs. Parente reached base three times through two hits and a walk, while leading the Titans with three RBIs. Johnson also recorded two hits, including a double, with two RBIs. Junior Frank Cinicola (Cranberry Township, PA / Seneca Valley) extended his hitting streak to nine games, finishing with two doubles, a walk, and two runs.

Titan senior Cory Pullen (Wexford, PA / North Allegheny) started the game pitching two and a third innings allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks, while striking out three. Titan freshman pitcher Paul Midili (Spring Hill, FL / Bishop Mclaughlin Catholic) recorded the win and moved to 3-4 on the season, pitching four and two-thirds innings in relief, allowing two runs (no earned) on four hits and a walk with one strikeout.

The Titans will next be in action on the road at Pitt-Greensburg on Tuesday, April 30 at 4 p.m.
 
*Written by Kevin Hart '20