BOX SCORE - GAME ONE

BOX SCORE - GAME TWO

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (Apr. 17) - Behind an eight-run sixth inning that broke open a 3-3 tie, the Bearcats took the first game of a doubleheader from first-place Westminster, 12-3, before dropping the nightcap, 5-3, in Presidents' Athletic Conference action.

With the split, the Saint Vincent baseball team moves to 19-11 on the season and 9-8 in conference action. Westminster wins its 20th game at 20-10 and is now 11-3 in league play.

SVC struck first in the opener with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. With one out, senior Jack Shaffer walked and sophomore AJ Kavinsky was hit by a pitch. After a ground out moved the runners to second and third, junior Brad Burkardt laced a two-run single to right field, 2-0.

The Titans picked up a run in the bottom half of the third inning to cut the lead to 2-1. The Bearcats answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning on a solo homer by senior Erik Fichter, his third of the season, which ties him for the team lead.

After Westminster picked up a run in the bottom of the fifth, Saint Vincent responded with eight runs in the top of the sixth. With one out, the Bearcats put together seven-straight hits to push across five runs during the span. Consecutive singles by senior Zack Galasso, junior Andrew Kozusko, Fichter, junior Grant Krally, senior Mike Hustava and Shaffer plated five runs to chase the Westminster starter.

After the pitching change, Burkardt ripped a two-run double to left center and Galasso added his second single of the inning to round out the scoring.

The Bearcats posted an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Krally hit a one-out infield single, advanced to third on a double by Hustava and scored on an RBI ground out by Shaffer.

Five different SVC players posted multi-hit performances as the Bearcats collected 14 hits in the first game. Burkardt led the way with a 2-for-4 day, including a double and four RBI. Fichter registered a 2-for-4 day as well with a homer and two RBI. Galasso, Hustava and Krally each tallied two hits as well, as Krally scored two runs and drove in two.

Junior Jared Haller earned the win in his fifth complete game of the season to improve to 7-1 on the year. He scattered 10 hits and allowed three runs (two earned) to go along with two strikeouts and a walk.

In the second game, SVC posted three runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. An RBI doubt by Galasso and two-run single by Kozusko were the scoring points for the Bearcats.

The Titans were able to get to starting pitcher senior Jeremy Mains in the bottom of the fourth. After a lead-off homer, Mains retired the next batter before yielding another solo shot to tie the game, 3-3. After a walk, Mains surrendered a two-run homer that gave Westminster the lead, 5-3.

Mains suffered the loss to fall to 4-3 on the season. He worked 3.1 innings and allowed seven hits, five earned runs and issued three walks to one strikeout. He gave way to sophomore Alex Kozusko who tossed the final 2.2 innings of two-hit ball with two strikeouts.

The Bearcats return to the diamond this weekend with a three-game set against PAC-foe Bethany. The two teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday in West Virginia at 1 p.m., before wrapping up the series with a nine-inning game in Latrobe on Sunday afternoon.