Petrizzi Shines As West Chester Sweeps East Stroudsburg

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Matt Petrizzi hit two home runs in game one, and then tossed a complete-game, three-hitter, adding a double at the plate in the nightcap to lead visiting West Chester to a PSAC East doubleheader sweep over East Stroudsburg at Mitterling Field Sunday.
 
West Chester (22-8, 17-5 PSAC East) moved into first place in the Eastern Division standings on winning percentage. The Golden Rams clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament with its four-game weekend series win over East Stroudsburg (24-16, 10-14).
 
Petrizzi's three-run blast in the top of the sixth inning of game one broke a 5-5 tie right after the host Warriors had knotted things up at 5-apiece in the bottom of the fifth. Luke Mogle walked to lead off the sixth, and Tice walked two batters later to put runners on first and second with one out. That is when Petrizzi greeted ESU right-handed John Armbrust with a shot to left field that put West Chester back in control and took the wind out of the Warriors' sails.
 
The Rams added one more run in the sixth and seventh each, then withstood one final rally from ESU in their final at bats to put game one away. Jeff O'Reilly (1-0) was the beneficiary of Petrizzi's homer in the sixth. He picked up his first win of the season in relief, yielding three runs in 2.2 innings while walking two and striking out four. Eric Close (1) registered his first save of the year by getting the last out of the game.
 
Petrizzi went 2-for-2 with six RBI in the opener. He homered in the top of the first inning, going back-to-back with Dylan Tice, as West Chester opened up a 3-0 lead early. He later walked with the bases loaded in the third for his other RBI.
 
Petrizzi went 3-for-4 in the second game with a two-run double that extended a 2-1 lead for the Rams to 4-1. That was all the right-hander would need on the mound as it turned out. He scattered three hits over seven innings, allowing one run while walking one and striking out eight.
 
Drew Diehl also went 3-for-4 and scored twice in the nightcap.
 
West Chester is scheduled to travel to Chestnut Hill College Monday evening, weather permitting. The Rams will then return home for a doubleheader on Tuesday against Wilmington (Del.) at Serpico Stadium.