No. 13 West Chester Tops No. 25 Seton Hill, 9-3

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Christian Bateman (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) went 3-for-4 and Nick Ward (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) 2-for-4 with a double and a home run to lead 13th-ranked West Chester to a 9-3 win over No. 25 Seton Hill in the team's first game down south at the Diamond 9 Classic at Osceola County Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
West Chester (6-2) has now won four straight while Seton Hill (5-6) dropped its third straight to end their week down south. A seven-run fifth did most of the damage and opened up a scoreless contest making a winner out of freshman Andrew Scarpelli (Lewisberry, Pa./Trinity), who picked up his first college victory.
 
West Chester sent 12 men to the plate in the fateful fifth, rapping out four consecutive doubles that plated four runs. Justin Horn (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Dublin) hit a two-run double that scored Corey Webb (Easton, Pa./Easton) and Joey Coyle (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum). Ward and Jared Melone (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) then each hit two-baggers to drive in runs. Later in the frame, Jon Hansen (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) singled in a pair of runs, and Bateman followed with the fifth double of the inning to score the seventh run.
 
Seton Hill responded with one run in the bottom of the fifth. However, Ward added a solo shot in the sixth, and Coyle singled in a run in the seventh to up West Chester's lead to 7-1. Seton Hill tacked on two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it was a little too little and a little too late.
 
Senior left-hander Michael Deitz (Avon Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) started the game and went 3.1 scoreless innings, scattering two hits while walking four and striking out four. Scarpelli relieved him in the fourth and went 1.2 innings scoreless, walking one and stiking out four. Three more pitchers paraded to the mound over the next three innings to close out the contest for the Golden Rams.
 
The win marked the third straight triumph over a nationally ranked opponent. West Chester swept a doubleheader from Southern New Hampshire, which was ranked nationally at the time of the twinbill. It also was a win over the reigning PSAC Champions. Seton Hill defeated Mercyhurst in the conference final last spring.
 
West Chester returns to the diamond Sunday for a split doubleheader. The Golden Rams face Grand Valley State at 10:30 a.m. and then take on Minnesota-Crookston at 1 p.m.