JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Adam Ferita hit a grand slam and the #4 seed Seton Hill University baseball team scored 10 runs in the bottom of the 7th on their way to winning their first-ever Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference baseball tournament championship with a 20-6 win over #1 Mercyhurst University Sunday afternoon at Point Stadium in Johnstown.
Seton Hill improves to 36-18 overall while Mercyhurst falls to just 37-6.
The Griffins raced out to an early 5-0 lead with a four-run first inning and one run in the second. The two teams would trade runs in the 4th and Seton Hill scored another in the 5th. However, it was the bottom of the 7th inning that broke the game open as the offense exploded for 10 runs.
Jarrett Petters got things going with a one-out single through the left side.
Craig Lewis then doubled to right center, moving Peters to third.
Tyler Sullivan's single to right field scored Peters easily and Lewis hustled around third and snuck across home plate to give Seton Hill an 11-2 lead.
Tom McCarthy followed with a single to shortstop, advancing Sullivan to second.
Ryan Grieco then loaded the bases with a two-out walk.
Mark Colella was hit by the second pitch of his at-bat, scoring Sullivan to make it 12-2.
Adam Ferita sent the first pitch of his at-bat out of the park to clear the bases and increase the lead to 16-2.
Ryan Wardropper then took a 1-0 pitch up the middle for a single, and Peters was hit by the pitch in his second at-bat of the inning. After a pitching change,
Craig Lewis homered off of a 1-0 pitch to left field, scoring Peters and Wardropper to give Seton Hill a commanding 19-2 lead.
After the two teams traded runs in the 8th, Mercyhurst would score three runs in the 9th. However, it was too little, too late and Seton Hill would win their first PSAC baseball championship.
Tom McCarthy led the Griffin offense with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate. McCarthy had four runs scored, two RBI's, a double, and a home run.
Craig Lewis was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI's. Lewis also doubled and homered.
Ryan Wardropper was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a home run.
Mark Colella batted 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI's.
Jarrett Peters was a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Adam Fertia was just 1-for-5, but had four RBI's with the grand slam in the 7th. All-in-all, Seton Hill amassed 16 hits in the contest, including four doubles and four home runs.
Don McWreath (4-3) gets the win for Seton Hill, last 6.0 innings on the hill and giving up just one run while walking four and striking out five. Mercyhurst's Levi Wright (0-1) got the loss, pitching just 1.0 innings for the Lakers. Wright gave up five runs (four earned), walked four, and strike out none in the loss.
The Griffins now await the NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show to see where they will continue their season and who their first opponent will be for the Atlantic Region Tournament.
