4GLENVILLE, WV – Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) went 4-for-6 with a home run and three RBI, and pitchers
Joe Sperone (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and
Nick Noga (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove) kept host Glenville State's bats silent as West Chester concluded is season-opening weekend series with an 14-4 victory over the Pioneers Sunday afternoon.
West Chester (3-0) displayed its hitting ability all weekend long, scoring 45 runs on 46 hits in 26 innings. Glenville State (3-3) dropped its second game of the weekend to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foe. They beat Mercyhurst on Friday, before falling to No. 7 Millersville on Saturday.
The Golden Rams broke open a 1-1 tied ballgame with three runs in the seventh, four in the eighth and six in the ninth. The Pioneers answered West Chester's three-spot in the seventh with one of its own to make it a 4-2 contest after seven. But, the Golden Rams put the game out of reach in the last two frames.
Kaleck hit a one-out solo home run in the seventh to get things started for the Rams. It was his third home run in as many games this weekend. Following the second out of the innings,
Anthony Boccio (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) reached on an error and then promptly stole second and third.
Avery Spencer (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove) singled in Boccio, and
Drew Simpson (Hockessin, Del./Delaware Military Academy) then doubled. Spencer was balked home with the third run of the inning.
Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway Regional) doubled to lead off the eighth, and
Zack Miles (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) reached on a fielder's choice when Glenville State unsuccessfully tried to nail Szestowicki at third.
Evan Profy (Croydon, Pa./Harry S. Truman) singled home Szestowicki, and then he and Miles pulled off a double steal, putting runners at second and third with nobody out.
Casey Vaughan (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) pinch hit and drew a walk to load the bases. Boccio then walked, forcing home Miles, and Spencer picked up a painful RBI when he was hit by a pitch hat pushed home Profy. Vaughan would eventually score on a wild pitch for the fourth run of the eighth.
Profy hit a RBI double in the ninth, and Kaleck singled in two more. Vaughan doubled in a run and Boccio singled in a run. Simpson hit a sacrifice fly for the sixth run in the ninth inning.
Sperone (1-0) drew the start and tossed five scoreless innings, scattering five hits. He walked three and struck out six. Noga came on in relief and allowed two runs on four hits in two innings of work. He struck out four batters.
Kyle Kearns (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) and
Kyle Lazer (Havertown, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) each fanned two batters in one inning of relief. In all, West Chester's four pitchers struck out 14 batters and only walked three Sunday.
West Chester heads to Cary, N.C. next weekend for four games in the Tar Heel State beginning with fellow PSAC rival Gannon on Friday.
