PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The no.21 nationally ranked Mount Union baseball team defeated DeSales University 13-4. The offense for the Purple Raiders stayed hot and dominated once again, while junior right-handed pitcher
Drew Gernert (Mequon, WI / Homestead)made his first start of his career and earned the victory in a strong outing.
Gernert pitched 5.0 innings with four strikeouts, allowing only two hits and no runs.
In the first inning, senior outfielder
Chris Tsouras (Las Vegas, NV / Arbor) hit a three-run home run to left field, marking his third home run of the season. In the third inning, the Purple Raiders continued their power hitting, as junior outfielder
Brycen Fox (Hamilton, OH / Badin) hit a solo home run down the right field line, which was the first home run of his career. Fox finished the game with a 2-for-4 batting performance, including a walk, a home run, and an RBI, as he maintained his perfect on-base streak, extending it to 13 games into the season.
Tsouras continued his strong performance with a two-RBI double to right field, sending a gapper between the center and right fielders. This brought his total to four and five RBIs for the game. Junior outfielder
Trevor Szekely (Canal Fulton, OH / Northwest) contributed with an RBI single to right field, and freshman catcher
Jake Jung (Westlake, OH / Westlake) followed up with an RBI single through the left side, marking his seventh RBI of the season. Senior second baseman
Aidan Schroeder (Pittsburgh, PA / Keystone Oaks) then hit an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, extending the Purple Raider lead to 11-0 by the end of the fourth inning.
In the seventh inning, Schroeder scored on a wild pitch, while sophomore shortstop
Daniel Tome III (Cleveland, OH / St. Edwards) hit a double down the left field line, to give Mount Union the 13-0 lead. DeSales added four runs in the 8th inning, but the Purple Raiders closed the door with freshman pitcher
Evan Roberts (Newark, OH / Licking Valley) and senior pitcher
Ryan Romito (North Ridgeville, OH / North Ridgeville). Roberts pitched 2.0 innings with one strikeout, while Romito pitched 2.0 innings with two strikeouts, securing the 13-4 victory.
Mount Union's next game is on Friday against Stockton as the team continues its trip in Florida. The game will be held at Chain O'Lakes Complex in Winter Haven, Florida.