West Chester Tops PhilaU In Bill Giles First Round

Box Score

ABERDEEN, Md. – Chris Pula hit a two-run home run and knocked in three to support a quality outing from Fred Breidenbach on the mound and Ron Scull in relief as West Chester downed Philadelphia University, 4-1, in the first round of the Bill Giles Classic at the Ripken Complex Saturday night.
 
West Chester (3-1) advances to the Bill Giles Championship Game, which will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on a date to be determined against either Wilmington or University of Sciences. PhilaU falls to 2-7 on the year.
 
The Golden Rams mustered just two hits off three PhilaU hurlers, but made them count in the win. Pula's two-run homer and Justin Roman's RBI triple were the only two hits for the Rams on the night. West Chester scored once in the bottom of the first and added two more in the fourth and one in the sixth for all the scoring Breidenbach (1-0) would need.
 
Mike Raimo was hit by a pitch in the first inning, stole second base and moved up on a wild pitch later. He eventually scored on a ground out by Pula to give WCU a 1-0 lead. PhilaU tied it in the third. However, Pula hit a two-run smash to left field in the fourth to put the Golden Rams on top for good, 3-1.
 
Pula skied a pop up in the infield that PhilaU could not catch, and Pula raced around to second base. Roman followed with a blast over the center fielder's head in left center that scored Pula. Roman reached third on the hit.
 
Breidenbach allowed one run on seven hits, walked two and struck out six in six innings of work. Scull came on in relief for his first save of the season. He tossed three shutout innings, yielding three hits, striking out one and did not walk a batter.
 
PhilaU starter David Lerro (0-2) lasted four innings, surrendering three runs on one hit. He struck out eight West Chester batters and did not walk anybody. The left-hander was very effective against the Golden Rams' lineup all night. Steven Dickerson allowed one unearned run in two innings, giving up the only other hit. Abraham Almonte finished up with a pair of scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out three.
 
West Chester will be back in action next weekend when the Golden Rams travel to Johnstown, Pa., to take on PSAC West opponent Cal at Point Stadium.