KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Fr., RHP
Zach Rice (Honey Brook, Pa. / Twin Valley) went seven strong innings while surrendering one earned run to lead No. 13 West Chester to a 3-1 victory over Minnesota Crookston in the team's third game down south at the Diamond 9 Classic in Osceola County Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Rams (8-2) snapped Minnesota Crookston's (9-5) eight-game winning streak with the victory. West Chester gave Rice early run support by bringing in a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Fr.,
Justin Horn (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Dublin) provided a leadoff single up the middle to get the offense started.
Nick Ward (Kennett Square, Pa. / Unionville) followed that up with a ground-rule double to put two men on for
Jared Melone (North Wales, Pa./North Penn).
Melone gave the Golden Rams a 1-0 lead in the first with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Sr., DH
Shane Dressler (York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) singled to drive in Ward for his first RBI of the afternoon. He was not done yet, driving in his second run off of a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth inning that brought in Ward. Dressler finished 2-4 with a pair of RBIs against Minnesota Crookston.
Ward finished the game 2-3 with a pair of runs scored. The team posted 11 hits over the course of the game. Eight different batters managed to record a hit.
Rice has now won his first three collegiate starts on the hill for the Golden Rams. The freshman allowed six hits and the one run in the third inning. He also registered four strikeouts and walked three batters.
Jr., RHP
Tim Edwards (Hershey, Pa. / Hershey) threw a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to produce his first collegiate save. Edwards struck out four of the eight batters he faced.
This marks the sixth consecutive win for the Golden Rams and the third straight at the Diamond 9 Classic.
West Chester returns to action on Tuesday when they take on Wayne State University at 10:30 a.m.
