PITTSBURGH, PA - La Roche go a late start this afternoon against Wooster, but the team wasn't going to let that stop them from staying on top of their game. After a tough sweep by the Hilbert Hawks, the Redhawks were ready to get back to putting tallies in their win column.
And place tallies they did. La Roche had 3 big innings this afternoon to earn them the W. In the first inning, Zach Kieb and Tanner Kobal had lead-off back-to-back doubles for the Redhawks to draw first blood. Stutz followed suit, socking a base hit into left field, moving Kobal up one. Kyle Weitzel doubled into center, pushing Kobal home and Stutz to third to make room for himself on second base. Stutz stole home on a passed ball, scoring another run, and Weitzel moved up a bag. Josh Dryer hit a sacrifice fly to score the final run of the inning, for a total of 4 in inning 1.
Wooster game back within one in the top of the second inning, but Nathan Stutz was sure to even it back up with a 3-run home run after the at-bats of Keib and Darwin to get one base. Stutz with one shot to left field earned back all of the runs that Wooster had just earned, increasing their lead to 4 (7-3).
Both teams were quiet in the third inning, neither sending any runners across home plate, and the Redhawks held the Fighting Scots scoreless in the top of the fourth, but Wooster could not say the same.
The big 4-run inning in the bottom of the fourth was led by Nathan Stutz with a single, Kyle Weitzel with a 2-run home run, Brooks reached base on a walk, and another 2-run home run off the bat of Nate Darwin to give La Roche an 11-3 lead.
From here Wooster chipped away at La Roche's lead. Have a big 4-run inning of their own, and by the sixth inning the Fighting Scots were within 2, but in the end, they could not complete their mission, and La Roche walked away with an 11-9 victory on their home field.
The Redhawks can contribute their big win to Samuel DiCicco who came in from the bullpen. The hurler earned the save in today's contest, throwing 3 and two-thirds innings, surrendering no runs on two hits, and striking out 6 Wooster batters.
Chris Tarqunio earned his first official win on the mound today. The Southpaw lasted four and one-third innings on the mound, allowing 7 runs on 8 hits, and striking out 1.
Stutz, Weitzel, and Darwin each recorded a home run for the day for a total of 3. Stutz and Weitzel tied to lead the RBIs, each with 3, Darwin right behind them with 2.
Keib added 2 hits for his team as well this afternoon, one double and a single.
Stutz led at the plate this afternoon, going 3-for-4.
Your Redhawks will take a few days off before they start their conference week on the road. The team is slated to play Penn State Altoona on Wednesday away, and Pitt-Bradford on Saturday away. Both contests are planned to start at 1:00 PM.