No. 13 West Chester Wins Fifth Straight

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A seven-run second inning lifted No. 13 West Chester to a 13-4 victory over Grand Valley State University in the team's second game down south at the Diamond 9 Classic in Osceola County Stadium Sunday morning.
 
The victory marked the fifth straight victory for the Golden Rams (7-2). Jr., first baseman Jared Melone (North Wales, Pa. / North Penn) continues to force for West Chester, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs. His single to right field in the second drove in a pair of runners that opened up the game.
 
West Chester tacked on four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 13-1. The team accumulated those 13 runs off of 11 hits, eight of which came from different batters.
 
The Lakers (8-7) took an early 1-0 lead off an RBI single to center field by Ryan Blake-Jones in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Golden Rams scored 13 unanswered runs to earn the victory.
 
This was the last game of the Diamond 9 Classic for Grand Valley State as they dropped three out of the last four games. They wrapped up the event with an 6-3 record.
 
There were four West Chester players who registered at least a pair of RBIs in the contest. Sr., Shane Dressler (York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) went 2-for-2 with an RBI double and sacrifice fly. In the fifth, Nick Ward  (Kennett Square, Pa. / Unionville) registered an RBI triple to right center field.
 
So., Corey Webb (Easton, Pa./Easton) was the third member of the group with two runs batted in. His walk in the second with the bases load to even the game at one apiece. The fourth member of the group was Melone, who posted a team-best three RBIs.
 
Right-hander Mike Cipolla (Newark, De / Charter School of Wilmington) (2-0) threw seven strong innings, surrendering 10 hits to go along with three earned runs. He had some help behind him as a double play got him out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning.
 
So., RHP Dan McCartin (Warrington, Pa. / Central Bucks South) came in for Cipolla and finished out the remaining two innings for the Golden Rams. He threw a scoreless eighth inning and gave up one run in the ninth. The infield helped out today, generating four double plays over the course of the game.
 
West Chester returns to the diamond later today against the University of Minnesota Crookston.