Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
AUBURNDALE, Fla. – West Chester dropped both of its contests Sunday afternoon falling, 7-2, at the hands of Ashland and 4-1 to 20th-ranked Slippery Rock on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
West Chester (5-7-1) committed three errors in the opener against Ashland (11-4) that led to three unearned runs, and Jack Provine flew out deep to right field with two runners on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth as No. 20 Slippery Rock (10-4) held on for the win.
Provine finished the day 3-for-8 with a double and a triple, each of those coming in the opener against Ashland, and almost played the hero in the nightcap with a warning-track shot the opposite way that came a couple feet short of tying the ballgame.
West Chester is now 1-3 during its southern swing on Spring Break.
Slippery Rock put up three runs in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 tie. Kevin Jovanovich hit a two-run single up the middle, and Ricky LaRose walked with the bases loaded to provide The Rock with all the offensive support that Kyle Schneider (4-0) would need on the mound. Jovanovich also hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning, finishing with three of SRU’s four RBI.
Schneider last 7.1 innings, surrendering one run on six hits while walking three and striking out nine. John Kovalik came on and finished up the final 1.2 innings for his fourth save of the young season.
Provine’s safety squeeze that plated Ben Spezialetti with the tying run of the ballgame in the third was the only offense West Chester could muster. Provine was safe on the play and advanced to second when Schneider’s throw to first sailed down the right-field line. However, West Chester eventually left the bases loaded without pushing across another run.
Matt McAllister (0-2) started and lasted 6.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out five.
One big inning was again the culprit in the opener as Ashland scored three in the fifth and then two more in the sixth to break open a 1-1 ballgame as well.
Provine was 2-for-4, and Justin Lamborn recorded the team’s only RBI with a run-scoring ground out in the third.
Conor Kerins (1-2) started and lasted four innings. He allowed four runs, only two of them earned, on six hits. He walked one and struck out three. Brent Roehrich came on in relief and tossed two innings, yielding two runs, only one of them earned, on three hits. However, he hit three batters walked another. Ron Scull pitched the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits.
Zach Botjer (3-1) earned his third win of the week down south, going 7.2 innings and striking out 10. He scattered six hits over that period and allowed both WCU runs.
West Chester battles Minnesota-Duluth in a doubleheader Monday in Auburndale. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m.
