Wendle's Three HRs Power West Chester To Season-Opening Sweep

The following is a press release from the athletic department.

Senior Joe Wendle hit three home runs and knocked in eight altogether as West Chester University’s baseball squad opened its 2012 campaign with a doubleheader sweep over host West Virginia State, 14-5 and 6-2, Sunday afternoon.
 
West Chester (2-0) jumped out to a pair of early leads in both games and never looked back. The Golden Rams got two terrific pitching performances on the mound to contribute to the wins. West Virginia State (2-4)
 
Sophomore Joe Gunkel (1-0) picked up the win. He pitched five innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out five. Dave Stieg finished up, yielding two runs on one hit, walking two and striking out three.
 
Wendle finished game one 3-for-5 with six RBI. Justin Lamborn was 3-for-4. Matt Baer and Reid Pulford also homered. Jack Provine was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. The Golden Rams rapped out 12 hits in the opener.
 
In the nightcap, Fred Breidenbach (1-0) tossed five innings of two-hit ball, surrendering one run. He struck out two batters without walking any. Conor Kerins relieved him and threw 1/3 of an inning. Senior Jordan Lehman then came on and took the ball the rest of the way, giving up one run on three hits to pick up the save. He struck out two without walking any.
 
Lamborn hit a home run in the nightcap. Mike Raimo was 2-for-3 with a run scored. West Chester got six hits off eight different West Virginia State hurlers.
 
West Chester’s four-run seventh opened up a 2-1 ballgame. Chris Pula hit a two-run triple and then scored on a throwing error while Lamborn’s first homer of the season highlighted the four-spot.
 
The Golden Rams will be back in action on Thursday at Chestnut Hill for a single game.