Box Score
WINTER PARK, Fla. - West Chester University got its spring break off to a flying start, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the 10th inning and then holding on to defeat host Rollins, 11-9, in extra innings in a non-league contest.
Reid Pulford hit a one-out double to left and was lifted for pinch-runner Matt Kirchner to get things started for West Chester (3-0). Leadoff hitter, Mike Raimo, then singled to center, plating Kirchner with the first run of the frame. Raimo moved up to second on a wild pitch, and then Jack Provine drew a walk from Rollins lefty reliever Jack Murray. Joe Wendle then delivered a double to right that scored Raimo with the 11th run of the ballgame.
West Chester took a 9-8 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to a solo shot from Chris Pula, his first of the year, in the top half of the stanza. However, Rollins (13-6) tied things up in their final at bats to send the game into extras.
The Golden Rams escaped Winter Park with the "W", despite committing five errors and allowing four unearned runs to cross the plate in the eighth and ninth, combined. Trailing 8-2, the homestanding Tars scored three times in the seventh and three more times in the eighth to knot things up at 8-apiece.
Weary (1-0), a sophomore transfer from California (Pa.), pitched the final 2.2 innings to earn his first win as a Golden Rams pitcher. He allowed one unearned run on three hits, struck out four and walked just one batter. Sophomore Joe Gunkel got the start and tossed six innings of six-hit ball. He surrendered two runs, walked one and struck out three. Brent Roehrich came on in the seventh, but lasted just one-third of an inning, yielding three runs on three hits.
Jordan Lehman then came on to get the Rams out of the inning. He also picked up the first out of the eighth. In all, the big righty allowed three unearned runs on one hit, walked two and struck out one.
Wendle finished 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. Raimo went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and a walk. He was on base five of his six plate appearances. Pula, Justin Lamborn and Jordan Wlodarczyk each contributed a pair of RBI in the win.
West Chester improved its season-opening win streak to three games with the victory. The Golden Rams play St. Joseph's (Ind.) Saturday at noon in Davenport, Fla., as they continue their southern trip.
