No. 19 WCU STRIKES LATE IN 9-1 WIN OVER NJIT

April 19, 2005

Courtesy of Mark Mentone NJIT Sports Information

Gilliford Homer In Seventh Breaks Tie

NEWARK, N.J. – West Chester University scored eight runs in the final three innings of its 9-1 non-conference baseball victory over host New Jersey Institute of Technology on Tuesday afternoon at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. West Chester is ranked No. 19 in the latest Collegiate Baseball magazine national Division II poll.
 
With the game tied, 1-1, WCU’s John Molyneaux (Philadelphia, PA/Calvary Christian) led off the top of the seventh inning with a bunt single off of NJIT starter Chuck Leppo (Westminster, MD/Westminster). After another hit, Chris Legiadre (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) relieved Leppo and picked Molyneaux off second base. However, Mike LaRosa (Holland, PA/Council Rock) singled and Mark Gilliford (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) followed with a three-run homerun.
 
Gilliford’s blast made a winner of Golden Ram starter Ryan Gerber (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) (3-0), who allowed one run on five hits and struck out nine batters over seven innings. WCU (26-8) would tack on a run in the eighth inning and four unearned tallies in the ninth. Molyneaux and Joey Yeager (Phoenixville, PA/Great Valley) had three hits apiece.
 
Leppo (0-1), making his first career start, yielded two earned runs on five hits in six-plus innings in the hard-luck loss. He struck out five and walked three. Phil Resciniti (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) was 3 for 4 with a double and drove in the lone Highlander run. NJIT is 16-12.