Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Photo Gallery
After extending its winning streak to four with a win in the opening end of a doubleheader, the Bearcat baseball team was defeated 6-3 by Westminster in the nightcap at Bearcat Ballfield.
In the opener, the Saint Vincent pitching staff recorded its fourth straight complete game, with Gary Gerhardt working seven innings and allowing one unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts, before the Titans avenged the defeat by coming back from an early 2-0 deficit to win the second end.
In the day's first game, the hosts took an early 1-0 lead with a single tally in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Joe Aul lined a double to the gap in right center, and scored one batter later on a Zack Galasso RBI single to left.
The Bearcats manufactured a run in the second to double up their lead. Erik Fichter began the frame with a single, and after moving to second on a wild pitch, he was able to take third after a sacrifice bunt from Zach Bush. Joey Fearer then came through with an RBI ground out to make the score 2-0.
The heart of the order again struck with two outs in the bottom of the third. This time, Galasso laced a double off the fence in left field, and then scored on Mike Hustava's second home run in as many games to give SVC a four-run cushion.
The Bearcats closed out the scoring with a big sixth inning, sending nine men to the plate and scoring five runs. Bush and Fearer each had RBI singles in the frame, while AJ Kavinsky belted a two-run double and Brad Burkardt producing an RBI ground out.
The run support was more than enough for Gerhardt. The sophomore faced just two batters over the minimum in taking a no-hitter into the sixth, and allowed the lone Westminster run in the top of the seventh. For the game, he scattered just three hits and struck out six, adding to his PAC-leading strikeout total, which now stands at 67.
Offensively, the Bearcats pounded out nine hits, with Aul and Galasso each going 2-for-4. All nine SVC starters reached base at least once, with seven different men recording hits.
Patrick Mulligan started on the bump for Westminster, and fell to 6-2 on the year after allowing nine runs on eight hits, with three walks and two strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the Bearcats again got off to a strong start, loading the bases in the bottom of the first. Kavinsky led off with a single, before Galasso walked and Hustava was hit by a pitch. Erik Fichter then laced a two-out RBI single to center, scoring Kavinsky and Galasso and giving SVC the early two-run cushion.
Westminster answered right back in the top of the second, taking advantage of two walks, a hit batsman, and two singles to grab a 4-2 lead.
Saint Vincent countered with a run in the bottom half, when Fearer, who doubled, was brought home on a Burkardt RBI single to cut the deficit to one, 4-3.
It was as close as the hosts would get, however, as Westminster scored an unearned run in both the fourth and seventh innings, taking advantage of a pair of costly errors, to leave Latrobe with the 6-4 win and the doubleheader split.
Burkardt and Fichter each went 2-for-3 at the dish for the Bearcats, who managed just six hits off of Westminster hurler Tim Lynn, who went the distance to earn the win, striking out three.
Paul Kubeja started on the hill for the Bearcats, going four innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. Matt Tyson came on in relief and did well, throwing the final three frames and allowing one unearned run on three hits with three K's.
Offensively, Rick DeBlasio led the Titans in the nightcap, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while teammate Ty Miller also added a pair of base knocks.
After the two games, the Bearcat record stands at 13-20 overall/5-12 in the PAC, while Westminster is now 19-11/6-8. Saint Vincent returns to action on Thursday, traveling to Westminster to conclude the three-game series with a single, nine-inning game set for 3pm.
