March 14, 2007

Box Score

Fort Myers, Fla. - The 27th-ranked Rock combined timely hitting with solid pitching to overcome a seven-error defensive effort and record a 4-3 win Wednesday night over No. 22 West Chester at Terry Park.

The win avenged a 7-2 loss to the Golden Rams two days earlier and gives SRU a 9-2 record heading into Thursday's 9 a.m. doubleheader vs. Southwest Minnesota State.

Wednesday night's loss snapped a six-game win streak for West Chester (6-2), the defending NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional champion.

Scott Bender had a pair of hits, including a two-run double down the left field line that plated the first runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning.

Phil Butch also collected a pair of hits, including an RBI double just inside the right field line in the top of the seventh inning. Butch then moved to third base on a passed ball before he scored what proved to be the winning run on a ground-ball RBI by Billy Herman.

Derek Blyzwick was The Rock's starting and winning pitcher. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, struck out five and walked one in six innings of work to improve his season record to 2-0.

Matt Lynn allowed one unearned run and one hit in one-third of an inning of work before he gave way to Sean Holliday with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Holliday induced the first batter to face him to hit a fly ball, which allowed the third West Chester run to score, but then got an inning-ending ground out.

West Chester also had the potential tying run in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, only to see Holliday slam the door on the threats and pick up his first save of the season.

West Chester finished the game with 11 runners left on base, while The Rock stranded nine runners.

The Rock outhit the Golden Rams by an 8-6 margin.

SRU seeks to carry the momentum of Wednesday night's win over to a 9 a.m. doubleheader Thursday vs. Southwest Minnesota State (7-4).

The Rock then concludes its nine-day, 11-game spring break trip to the Sunshine State with 9 a.m. single games Friday and Saturday vs. Hillsdale (Mich.) and Ashland (Ohio), respectively,

SRU's home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, vs. Mansfield. The first pitch of the first game that day is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Notes: In addition to being ranked in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II national poll, West Chester and The Rock are ranked second and third, respectively, in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association regional poll ... Wednesday's win was The Rock's fourth in the last six meetings with West Chester. SRU won both of the teams' meetings a year ago after splitting a pair of decisions in