Wolfpack Battle Hagerstown in Home Twinbill

YOUNGWOOD, Pa. - The Westmoreland County Community College baseball team hosted NJCAA Division I opponent Hagerstown Tuesday afternoon, taking the Hawks to the final out before falling 4-3 in game one and then battling through a 22-9 HCCC win in the second game.

In the opener, the Wolfpack rode a strong pitching effort from Damian Serralta. The first-year right-hander had his best start of the season, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out 11, including a stretch of five in a row at one point. The first Hagerstown run came in the second inning off a throwing error, but that was answered by a Wolfpack run in the third on a two-out RBI single by Reid Admundson.

Hagerstown scored again in the fifth due to an error to take a 2-1 lead, but that was short-lived, as Westmoreland tied the game again in the sixth when Matt Wicker smacked an RBi double to deep center field. Serralta started the seventh with a pair of Ks, but then back-to-back doubles put the Hawks in front and they added an insurance run off an error. The Wolfpack cut the deficit to 4-3 when Matt Henderson rolled an RBI single to right field but a strikeout ended the game and the win for the visitors.

Henderson's RBi single was one of two hits in the game, while Tommy Kegerreis also had a pair of hits, including a double.

Hagerstown took control of the nightcap quickly with five runs in the first inning and eight more in the second. Westmoreland got on the board in the third inning when Kegerreis jacked a three-run homer. The Hawks looked like they would end the game early by plating four more runs in the fourth inning to inflate their lead to 17-3.

To Westmoreland's credit, they did not go quietly, as they extended the game with five runs in the fifth inning. Kegerreis and Noah Sweeney hit RBI doubles, a third run came home on an error and then Dom Koch and Logan Gustafson collected RBIs on a single and fielder's choice, respectively.

Hagerstown put the game away with five more runs in the seventh inning, but the Wolfpack had one more highlight when Admundson launched a titantic home run to center field in the final inning to complete the scoring in the 22-9 Hawks win.

Kegerreis had two hits and drove in four to lead the offense, but also collecting two hits in the contest was Caden Kastronis, Wicker and Sweeney.

Westmoreland is scheduled to be on the road for their next games on Friday in a doubleheader at Kent State-Tuscarawas beginning at noon.