Baseball Overpowers Robert Morris, Wins Two
The Westminster baseball team overpowered Robert Morris University-Springfield Saturday afternoon to improve their record to 5-1. The Westminster Blue Jays shutout Robert Morris in game one 4-0 and short-gamed them in game two, 14-3.
The Blue Jays jumped out to grab a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Senior Andy Pichler led-off with a bunt and advanced to second and third on passed balls. When sophomore Jacob Holtgraewe went to steal second, Pichler advanced to home on the throw, scoring the first run.
Sophomore Deion Hughes was walked, and advanced to third with junior Tyler Branneky’s double. Senior Danton Hughes hit a RBI single to score De. Hughes amd advance Ty. Branneky to third. Junior Tim Chambliss grounded out to shortstop, but earned the RBI as Ty. Branneky scored.
The following four innings were scoreless, but in the bottom of the sixth the Blue Jays managed to grab another run. Da. Hughes led-off with a walk. He then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Freshman Tanner Branneky stepped up to the plate and hit a fly ball to right field. The fly was caught, but Da. Hughes was able to score, bringing the game to 4-0.
The Blue Jays struck out the second batter in the top of the seventh and ended the game with a double play and a 4-0 shutout.
De. Hughes (2-0) pitched the complete game, and struck out 12.
Robert Morris grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the second game, but the Blue Jays answered back in the bottom of the first. De. Hughes and Ty. Branneky both singled, and Da. Hughes stepped up to the plate and cracked a home run. Three batters later, Ta. Branneky stepped up to the plate with two runners on and smashed a home run, giving the Blue Jays a 6-2 lead.
The Blue Jays added three more runs in the third. Robert Morris grabbed a run in the fifth, but the Blue Jays answered back with a triple by Chambliss, scoring Ty. Branneky and Da. Hughes. Chambliss was brought in by freshman Mike Washington’s RBI single, bringing the lead to 12-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, Chambliss hit a 2 RBI double to score senior Ben Schwarz and freshman Nick Cessna. The Blue Jays held Robert Morris from scoring in the seventh, ending the game in the seventh inning with a 14-3 victory.
Freshman Jake Lund (2-0) was the winning pitcher. He pitched four innings and struck out five.
The Blue Jays will host Central Methodist University on Tuesday, March 18, for a doubleheader. Game one will start at 3:00 p.m.
