Kevin Fenstermacher
Assistant Athletic Director
Sports Information Director
75 College Ave.
Greenville, PA 16125
Phone - 724.589.2187
Fax - 724.589.2880
kfenstermacher@thiel.edu
www.thiel.edu/athletics
 

For Immediate Release: May 9, 2008

THIEL'S SCARPITTI DRIVES IN FIVE AS TOMCATS POST 12-10 OPENING-ROUND WIN
OVER WESTMINSTER

Justin ScarpittiCRESTVIEW HILLS, Ken. (May 9) -- Thiel College sophomore first baseman Justin Scarpitti (Erie/Cathedral Prep.) went 3-for-5, drove in five runs, scored three times and was just a single short of the cycle as the third-seeded Tomcats posted a 12-10 victory over second-seeded Westminster College in the opening round of the 2008 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Baseball Tournament, hosted by top seed Thomas More College.

Scarpitti's three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning put the Tomcats (28-13) in front of the Titans (24-15) 3-1. Westminster tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back RBI by third baseman Mike Busin and pitcher Dave Evans, and took a 4-3 in the sixth on an RBI single by left fielder David Colella. Thiel tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout by junior second baseman Dominic Modarelli (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch).

The Tomcats watched as their first six batters reached base safely in the eighth before sophomore third baseman Ryan Oldfield (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) popped a three-run home run to right center to put his squad out in front by a 10-4 margin. Scarpitti's triple to right center in the top of the ninth scored junior catcher Andrew Howard (Olney, Md./Sherwood) from first and Scarpitti later scored on a wild pitch to push their lead to 12-4.

Westminster had five of its first six batters reach base in the bottom of the ninth safely prior to first baseman Larry Izzo's three run shot to right center, which trimmed the Tomcat lead to two, 12-10. Junior reliever Mark Brewer (Beaver Falls/Blackhawk) recorded the final out of the contest to record his second save of the season.

Junior starter Josh Tedesco (Campbell, Ohio/Ursuline) improved to 11-3 on the season with the win. Tedesco worked eight innings, allowing six runs (5 earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts. Howard finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and pair of runs scored while junior right fielder David Nypaver (Williamsfield, Ohio/Howland) posted a pair of hits and an RBI.

Jake Zatchok suffered the defeat for Westminster, allowing a pair of runs (2 earned) on two hits in 0.2 innings. Starter Gary DeBaldo worked 6.1 innings and allowed four runs (3 earned) on six hits. Izzo finished 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored while Busin was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored.

The Tomcats are set to face fourth-seeded Grove City College, who posted a 7-3 win over top-seeded Thomas More earlier in the day, at 9 a.m. tomorrow to start Championship Saturday at the University of Cincinnati's Marge Schott Stadium.

 

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