PHOTO GALLERY FROM CITIZENS BANK PARK
PHILADELPHIA –
Luke Cantwell (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in as West Chester University downed Jefferson University, 5-2, in the Bill Giles Championship Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester (23-12) earned its tournament-record 14th team title at the Bill Giles Championship and second straight. Jefferson (20-15) was in search of its first crown since 2013.
The Golden Rams trailed the Rams, 1-0, in the bottom of the third when West Chester struck for three runs to take the lead for good. Cantwell had the big hit with a bases-loaded, two-run single.
Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) scored on a wild pitch prior to Cantwell's hit for the Purple & Gold's other run in the frame. Kaleck finished the day 2-for-4 with a RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Junior right-handed pitcher,
Jeb Kurtz (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) came on with two outs in the bottom of the third and got the Golden Rams out of the inning. That was all he needed to do to earn his second win in as many days improving to 2-0 on the season.
Jefferson struck for one run in the top of the sixth to pull within one, 3-2. However, West Chester was quick to answer with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Both Kaleck and Cantwell had RBI singles that time as well.
David Ferguson (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) pitched the ninth for the save. A total of five pitchers paraded to the mound for West Chester.
Andrew Cantwell (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) had the longest stint of the afternoon, throwing three innings and allowing one run on one hit. He walked one and struck out one.
Jefferson sent nine pitchers to the hill – one each inning – in the loss. Zach Ringenwald suffered the loss falling to 0-2 on the year. The Rams were led at the plate by Marquise Wood, who went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a RBI.
West Chester hosts East Stroudsburg on Friday in the first game of a crucial three-game conference series. The Golden Rams and Warriors will then finish up the series with a doubleheader in East Stroudsburg on Saturday.
