Tuesday, March 27, 2012

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College baseball team stayed flawless in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) on Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep over the visiting Grove City Wolverines. Westminster improved to 13-6 overall and 5-0 in the PAC, while Grove City dropped to 3-14 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

The Titans won convincingly in game one, 8-2, after an impressive performance by sophomore pitcher Ron Sullivan (Boardman, OH / Canfield) (2-0) who gave up two runs off five hits in a complete game of work. He walked two batters and struck out five.  In the nightcap, with the help of junior pitcher Scott Hanicak (Ellwood City, PA / Laurel) (2-0), the Titans came back down 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning and won 7-4 for their fifth-straight victory.  Hanicak came in for relief and pitched 4.1 scoreless innings and only gave up three hits. He walked one batter and fanned a career-high six.

In game one, the Titans scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Tim Wiand (Pottstown, PA / Owen J. Roberts) singled to center field, bringing home classmate Justin King (Pottstown, PA / Owen J. Roberts). Senior Ethan Yeager (Pottstown, PA / Owen J. Roberts) then gave Westminster a 2-0 lead following a fielder's choice RBI.

Grove City was down 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning when it scored their only runs of the game with two scores. The Titans responded with their most productive inning of the game in the bottom of the fifth with three more runs to go ahead 8-2. Junior Tyler Robinson (Creston, PA / Norwayne) led the offensive charge with a two-run RBI double to left field. Junior Chris Ross (West Pittsburg, PA / New Castle) and Wiand scored on the play. Senior Steve Perrotta (New Castle, PA / New Castle) added a RBI-single, brining around Robinson.

For the game, Westminster out-hit Grove City 13-5. Having multiple hits for the Titans was Perrotta, King, junior Kyle Allen (New Wilmington, PA / West Middlesex), Ross, and senior David Schafer (Hermitage, PA / Hickory).  King recorded his fifth stolen base on the season, while Robinson added his second and third on the year with a game-high two steals.

In game two, down 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning, Westminster regained the lead with three scores.  Perrotta led off with a double to left field. King followed with a walk. Two batters later, Wiand scored Perrotta and King with a two-run-RBI double down the left field line. With two outs, Yeager gave Westminster the 5-4 lead with a double down the left field line, scoring Wiand.

For the game, Westminster had six extra base hits. Perrotta led the way with two doubles. Also earning a double was King, Wiand, Yeager, and Nick Reinthaler (Canfield, OH / Canfield). 

Westminster will go on the road on Saturday to face Case Western Reserve in a doubleheader for its last non-conference contest of the season. Game one is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College ranks first in the nation as "Best College for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," according to Forbes.com. Westminster, a top-tier liberal arts college, ranks third in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster ranked 6th among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 376 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 42 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.