Wolfpack Gain Split with CCBC-Catonsville

YOUNGWOOD, Pa. - Behind an early offensive eruption and a strong starting pitching effort from Dom Koch, the Westmoreland County Community College baseball team rolled to a 13-1 victory in five innings in game two of Sunday's home twinbill with NJCAA Division II foe CCBC-Catonsville.

The Wolfpack win in game two gave them a split of the doubleheader after the Cardinals posted a 6-2 triumph in the opener. Tommy Kegerreis ripped two doubles and drove in one and Koch had a good first game as well, going 2-for-3 with an RBI in the setback.

The second game began with CCBC getting runners to second and third with two outs but Koch escaped the jam with a punchout to end the inning. Westmoreland went right to work in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with no outs and then a hard hit ground ball by Noah Sweeney drove in a pair to start the scoring. The Wolfpack added to their lead with bases-loaded walks by Matt Henderson and Ray Halahurich and then a single by Logan Gustafson brought home two more to complete the rally for a 6-0 lead.

Westmoreland tacked on two more in the second inning to swell their lead to 8-0, as Sweeney belted an RBI double and Koch helped his own cause with an RBI as well. Back on the mound, Koch was in control. He struck out a pair to strand a runner in the second inning and after a leadoff hit batter in the third inning, Koch induced two fly outs and a groundball to strand that runner as well.

Catonsville managed to push across a run in the top of the fourth, but the Wolfpack responded with a five-spot in the bottom of the inning. Henderson had an RBI fielder's choice on a grounder back to the mound that was knocked down and Nick Fuentes hustled home and slid under the tag for first run. Coming up with big hits later in the inning were Matt Wicker with a two-run double and Kegerreis capped a big day with a two-run single to make it 13-1.

Sweeney took the mound in the fifth and closed out the game with two Ks and a fly ball to Koch in left for the final out. Koch earned the win with four strong innings in his first start of the season, allowing one run on six hits while striking out three and walking zero.

Kegerreis paced the 12-hit Wolfpack attack with the bats, as he went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Wicker had a good day too by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Other solid games were turned in by Gustafson, who had with two hits and knocked in two; Henderson, who scored twice and had two RBIs and Fuentes, who drew two walks and scored twice.

The Wolfpack take Monday off before traveling to Hagerstown for a doubleheader with the Division I Hawks. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.