SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – Joe Sperone (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) threw a complete-game, three-hitter and West Chester's offense rapped out 10 runs on 13 hits to down Indiana (Pa.), 10-0, in a game shortened due to the 10-run rule implemented for postseason tournament games.
West Chester (30-16) advances to the winner's bracket final to take on Seton Hill (43-10). The winner of that game tomorrow at 11 a.m. advances to the PSAC Championship and would need to be beaten twice by whoever comes out of the loser's bracket.
Luke Cantwell (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) got things started for the Golden Rams with a home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth that put them on top 1-0. West Chester then slapped a 7-spot on the Crimson Hawks in the fifth, highlighted by
Corey Stouffer's (Souderton, Pa./North Penn) grand slam, to give Sperone an 8-0 lead through six. The Golden Rams tacked on two more to end the game early.
Zack Miles (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) doubled and
Evan Profy (Croydon, Pa./Harry S. Truman) followed with a bunt single.
Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) scored Miles on a safety squeeze by Kaleck. IUP's third baseman's flip to home plate was not in time to get Miles. Profy raced around to third on the play and runners were left on the corners with one out. Cantwell then was hit by a pitch to load them up for Stouffer.
J.R. Gifford (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) kept things going by drawing a walk after the grand slam.
Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) singled Gifford to third and then stole second.
Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway Regional) singled home Gifford, and Miles singled in Costa for the seven runs.
Stouffer singled back to the mound with the bases loaded to make it a 9-0 ballgame in the seventh, and Profy's walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the eighth sent everyone home early. Sperone improved to 7-4 on the year with another postseason gem.
