Wolfpack Take A Pair from Kent State-Tuscarawas

YOUNGWOOD, Pa. - A two-run single by Kameron Pritts completed a nine-run rally in the sixth inning of game two, as the Westmoreland County Community College baseball team roared back for a 15-14 victory and complete a sweep of visiting Kent State-Tuscarawas Sunday afternoon.

The come-from-behind win came after the Wolfpack rolled to a 13-3 triumph in the opening game that was stopped by the mercy rule in the sixth inning. After the Golden Eagles jumped in front 1-0 with a run in the first, Westmoreland plated five in the bottom of the inning. A double steal by Tanner Orndorff and Matt Wicker brought in the first run, Noah Sweeney hit an RBI single and then Reid Admundson launched a three-run homer to right to make it a 5-1 lead for the home team.

Amundson collected another RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the second and the Wolfpack put the game away with three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth inning. The big blow in the fifth was a two-run double by Tommy Kegerreis and in the sixth, Nick Fuentes hit a sacrifice fly, Orndorff walked with the bases loaded and Wicker ended the game with a two-run double to deep center.

Earning the win on the mound was Jared Wagner, who started and allowed two unearned runs in fourth innings while striking out four. Damian Serralta threw the final two frames and allowed one run and had one K.

In game two, the Golden Eagles jumped in front with four runs in the opening inning. The Wolfpack scored one in the first, chipped away with two in the third on an RBI double from Wicker and RBI single from Kegerreis and then made it 5-4 in the fourth inning on a sole homer to left by Pritts.

The final three innings of the nightcap saw wild swings back and forth. Kent State scored two in the fifth, which were answered by the Wolfpack in the last of the inning on an RBI double by Wicker and a solo home run by Kegerreis. In the sixth inning, the Eagles used Westmoreland errors to score six runs, five unearned, and build a 13-6 advantage going into the last of the sixth.

Pritts played a starring role in the comeback in the sixth inning, as he started the rally with an RBI double. That was followed by a bases-loaded walk by Orndorff, a three-run double by Wicker and an RBI single by Kegerreis to make it 13-12. Sweeney brought the Wolfpack even at 13-13 with an RBI double. After two walks and a passed ball, Pritts capped the comeback and a big second game with a two-run single that put the Wolfpack ahead 15-13.

Westmoreland still had to sweat it out in the seventh, as an error allowed Kent State to score one. With the tying run on second base, a ball in the dirt was blocked by Fuentes and when the runner tried to advance to third, the Wolfpack backstop threw him out trying to move up for the second out. Wicker, who came on in relief in the sixth, got a called third strike for the third out and picked up the win on the mound. Wicker also led the team at the plate by going 4-for-4 and knocked in five runs. He finished the afternoon

0going 6-for-7 at the plate and collected eight RBIs.

Pritts was instrumental in the game two victory with his three hits and four RBIs, while Kegerreis drove in three in the second game and finished the afternoon 5-for-6 with five runs knocked in and three runs scored. Orndforff was a catalyst at the top of the lineup on the day, posting four hits and scoring six runs.

The sweep gives the Wolfpack momentum headed into next week's Region XX doubleheader with Prince George's. The games will represent the first this season for Westmoreland against NJCAA Division III non-scholarship competition. As the only two Division III teams playing in Region XX this season, if either team sweeps the DH next week, they advance to the District Tournament May 20-22. If the teams split the twinbill, they wil play a deciding third game the weekend of May 15. First pitch for the opening game next weekend is scheduled for 12 pm in Youngwood.