April 18 college roundup
BASEBALL
WESTMINSTER SWEEPS FRANCISCAN
Westminster swept a doubleheader from Franciscan, winning by scores of 18-0 and 10-9. In the Game 1 win, Matthew Randza and Logan Murgenovich both homered and drove in three runs. Jake Vitale went six shutout innings and struck out nine to get the win.
In Game 2, West Middlesex grad Chase Tomko belted a seventh-inning grand slam, part of a 7-run frame that helped the Titans rally for the win. Franklin grad Kolton Banfi tossed two shutout innings with a strikeout to get the win.
ROCK SWEEPS MANSFIELD
Slippery Rock swept a doubleheader from Mansfield, winning by scores of 10-3 and 5-1. Joseph Ehland, Luke Trueman, and Koby Bubash all homered and doubled in the Game 1 win, with Trueman finishing with four RBIS and Ehland 3. Eoin Rossman gave up two earned runs in 5 ⅔ innings to get the win.
In Game 2, Truman and Ehland (two RBIs) went deep again, as did Alex Robenolt. Robert Herr pitched five innings and gave up one run to earn the win.
CLARION PUTS UP 17 RUNS IN WIN
Clarion scored 17 runs on 18 hits in a 17-2 win over Lock Haven. Scott McManamon homered and drove in three runs for the Golden Eagles, while Mason Kepler and Kasey Shugart were both 3-for-6 with three RBIs. Dan Miller allowed just two unearned runs on two hits in six innings to get the win. Wilmington grad Isaac Schleich tossed three shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out a pair to get the 3-inning save.
ALLEGHENY SWEEPS GENEVA
Allegheny earned its third PAC sweep of the 2023 campaign, as the Gators defeated Geneva College by scores of 14-6 and 7-0.
Although there were several noteworthy performances from the Gators (15-13, 8-4 PAC) against the Golden Tornadoes (12-19, 5-9 PAC), Tyson Bryant-Dawson (Oakland, Calif./Manvel (Texas)) stole the show by slugging three home runs. All three hits from the outfielder left the yard, as Bryant-Dawson finished the twin bill 3-for-7 with six RBIs and six runs scored.
THIEL SPLITS WITH WAYNESBURG
Thiel College split a pair of Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) games with the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets Tuesday afternoon, losing Game 1, 4-3 and winning Game 2, 15-14.
The Yellow Jackets walked off game one for a 4-3 win. However, the Tomcats would outpace the Yellow Jackets in game two, winning 15-14.
In game one, Thiel was led by JT Gerle, who went 2-for-4. Ethan Bintrim, Nick Guarnieri, and Seth Johnson each recorded an RBI. Nathan Doutt (General McLane) got the start in game one, going six innings, giving up three runs, and striking out two. Nate Lucas pitched the final two innings, giving up one run in the loss. Waynesburg was led by Lane Ours who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Todd Burner went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Nolan Vertullo went 1-for-4 with an RBI, including the walk-off homerun.
Gavin Pratt went 6.1 innings, giving up all three runs. He struck out four and walked five.
In game two, the Tomcats took an early 2-0 from an Ethan Brintrim two-RBI double in the first inning. The Tomcats had an 11-7 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. However, Waynesburg would score six in the bottom of the sixth to take a 13-11 lead.
In the top of the ninth, JT Gerle singled to left field to bring home Colton Brightwell. Two batters later, Nick Guarnieri singled to left, driving in two runs to tie the game. Chase Morrison then singled to center field, clearing the bases to put the Tomcats up for good, 15-13. The Tomcats had 23 hits in game two.
SOFTBALL
BEHREND SPLITS WITH ALFRED
Penn State Behrend split a non-conference doubleheader with the Alfred on Tuesday. The Lions posted a 15-14 victory in the opener and fell 5-0 in game two.
In Game 1, A-C Valley grad Cami McNany had her 100th hit on a single in the seventh inning. Jocelyn McNany (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) had a career-high six RBIs with two home runs. Jocelyn McNany smacked a two-run homer in the third and another in the eight-run fifth inning. Five different players registered multiple hits, including Jocelyn McNany with three along with Emi Curcio who tallied two doubles and a home run in her three hits.
In Game 2, Alfred pitcher Megan Bennett threw a seven-hit shutout, striking out six to help the Saxons split. Lakeview grad Sierra Williams had three hits for the Lions.
GROVE CITY SPLITS WITH WAYNESBURG
The Grove City College softball team split PAC co-leader Waynesburg. Visiting Waynesburg (22-6, 11-3 PAC) held off Grove City in Game One, 7-4, but the Wolverines (16-12, 10-6 PAC) stormed to a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.
Grove City held a 4-3 lead in Game Two entering the bottom of the sixth and then broke open the game by scoring five times.
Sophomore DP Brooke Brodie had a two-run single to give Grove City a 6-3 lead. Smyth later scored when senior shortstop Lexi Buck walked with the bases loaded. Brodie came home when freshman center fielder Noel Anthony (Clarion) hit into a fielder’s choice. An error on the play allowed junior pinch runner Lauren Harris to score the fifth run of the inning. Linhart finished 3 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored. Dawson went 3 for 4 while Brodie added two hits. Dawson (6-5) earned the win by throwing a complete game. She allowed two earned runs and five hits in seven innings. Dawson struck out three and walked one.
Grove City trailed 7-3 in the seventh inning of the opener but eventually brought the tying run to the plate. Sophomore right fielder Annika Rinehart () led off with a double. Sophomore pinch runner Ella Krarup (Wilmington) ran for Rinehart and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Linhart singled with one out and Harris reached on a hit-by pitch. However, Waynesburg pitcher Sydney Wilson ended the game by retiring the next two hitters. Brodie roped a run-scoring single that brought in Linhart with Grove City’s first run in the bottom of the first inning. Linhart and Rinehart both scored on an error in the third inning. Rinehart finished 2 for 3 while Brodie and Linhart each went 2 for 4.
Junior pitcher Kaitlyn Constantino (Clarion) threw a complete game for the Wolverines. She struck out four and yielded six earned runs. Constantino is now 8-6 on the season.
Grove City has matched the single-season program record with 10 conference wins. The Wolverines went 10-8 in the league last season.
