NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College baseball team opened their brand-new turf field on Saturday and split with Franciscan in their season-opener. Westminster lost 13-6 in game one, however, regrouped and won 5-2 in the nightcap.
 
In game one, Franciscan (1-1) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning and led 6-0 going into the bottom of the third. Westminster (1-1) scored its first run of the game when junior Austin Webb (Wadsworth, OH / Wadsworth) scored classmate Dawson Porter (Kittanning, PA / Armstrong). Down 9-1 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Titans started to rally with an RBI-single by junior Mike Grazier (Austintown, OH / Austintown-Fitch) and a two-run hit by senior Tyler Barnot (Pittsburgh, PA / Bethel Park). Grazier connected on a two-run single in the very next inning, to cut Franciscan's lead to 9-6 after six innings of play. In the seven-inning game, the Barons did not let the Titans get any closer, while adding insurance with four runs in the final stanza. Grazier led Westminster at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Junior Logan Minch (Grove City, PA / Grove City Area) got the opening day starting nod. Minch went 3.1 innings, while giving up eight hits and only two earned runs (six total) and striking out three.
 
The Titans responded quickly in game two with a three-run first inning, courtesy of a three-run double by Barnot. Franciscan started to chip away at Westminster's lead with two runs in the fourth inning, cutting the lead to 3-2. Barnot added to Westminster's lead with a run in the sixth and first-year Logan Murgenovich (Aliquippa, PA / Central Valley) added the final run in the eighth for the Titans. Junior Matt Costello (New Castle, PA / Union Area) went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, while Murgenovich connected on three hits. Junior Paul Midili (Spring Hill, FL / Bishop Mclaughlin Catholic) got the win after pitching six strong innings, only giving up two earned runs off four hits and striking out nine. First-year Nathaniel Wilkins (Herminie, PA / Yough) earned the save in his collegiate debut after only allowing one hit in 1.2 innings.
 
Westminster is back on the diamond Sunday, March 14 with a doubleheader at Franciscan. Game one will be nine innings, while game two will be seven innings and a non-conference game. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.