The Bearcats were swept in a home doubleheader by visiting Westminster College, falling 6-2 in the opener and 15-14 in a wild nightcap.

In the day's first game, the Bearcat bats struggled to the tune of just two hits, while in game two, SVC was unable to complete a furious comeback in a wild back-and-forth affair.

After three full scoreless innings in the opener, Westminster got on the board first, manufacturing a run in the top of the fourth to go ahead 1-0, when Nick Elliott, who led off the inning by getting hit with a pitch, scored on an RBI-ground out. 

The Bearcats quickly evened it up in the home half of the inning.  Kenny Primeaux was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and then stole second base.   Eric Fichter then advanced Primeaux by reaching on an infield single, before Ryan Joseph cracked a hard ground ball to third that was misplayed, allowing Primeaux to cross the plate.

The Titans scored twice in the top of the fifth, before the Bearcats answered with another unearned run in the bottom half.  Chris Zampogna reached on an error to start the frame, and eventually scored on a ground out by Mike Hustava to make it a 3-2 game heading into the sixth.

Westminster was able to put the game away in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on four hits to close out the game's scoring, as the Bearcats went down in order in the bottom of the frame.

Rob Patula started and took the loss for SVC on the hill, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits.

The Bearcats' lone two hits were singles off the bats of Fichter and Danny Jackson, as Westminster starter Justin Prejsnar went the distance, striking out three in a game that took just an hour and 40 minutes.

In the nightcap, the Titans jumped ahead early, scoring four unearned runs in the top of the first off SVC starter Jeremy Mains, as Westminster scored all four runs after a costly two-out Bearcat error.

SVC quickly cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first, when Joseph sent a two-run homer to dead center, scoring Mike Adams who singled, to make the score 4-2.

The Titans then scored six runs over the next two frames to go ahead 10-2, as the Bearcat defense again committed a pair of costly errors to give Westminster four unearned tallies over the span.

Hustava sent a two-run double to the gap in right center in the bottom of the fourth to trim the Titan advantage to 10-4, but again Westminster answered back, scoring a pair of runs in the visiting half of the fifth and pushing its lead back up to eight runs.

The Bearcats then went on the comeback trail, sending 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth to score seven runs.  Sam Manna, Mike Christiansen, and Chris Zampogna all produced run-scoring singles, before Adams cleared the bases with three-run triple down the right field line on a full count with two outs to bring SVC to within one, 12-11.

In the bottom of the sixth, SVC looked to complete its rally, as Christiansen led off the frame with a solo homer to left center field, tying the game at 12.  Two batters later, Manna tripled to the gap in right center, and was plated on a wild pitch to give the Bearcats their first lead of the day, 13-12, heading into the final inning.

Westminster refused to go away, scoring three runs on just one hit in the top of the seventh, as the Titans drew two walks and a pair of hits batsmen in the frame to go up 15-13.

Primeaux then looked to begin another rally for the Bearcats in the bottom of the seventh, as he hit the first pitch of the inning off the fence in centerfield for a double.  It was his 13th double of the season, tying a single-season SVC record.

A groundout by Adams moved Primeaux to third with two outs, and then Christiansen came through with his second big hit in as many innings, capping off an eight-pitch at bat with a single through the right side to plate Primeaux and pull SVC to within one, 15-14.

Zach Janocha followed by walking, putting runners at first and second with two down, but the Bearcats were unable to pull of their second comeback of the game, as Zampogna was thrown out on a bang-bang play at first base to end the contest.

The Bearcats banged out a total of 15 hits for the game, with Manna and Christiansen each going 3-for-4 to lead the charge.  Christiansen added three RBI's, while Manna reached base in all five of his plate appearances on the day, drawing a walk and a fielder's choice, while he also scored three runs.

Zampogna, Adams, and Primeaux also had multi-hit games, notching two apiece.  The Bearcats used a total of four pitchers in the game, with Vince Yandura being saddled with the loss, working three innings in relief and giving up four runs - three earned - on four hits.  Jeremy Mains started the game on the hill for SVC, going 2 2/3 innings and giving up six runs - just two earned - on seven hits.

John Izzo earned the win on the hill for the Titans, throwing one-third of an inning.  Gary Debaldo threw the seventh inning and earned the save.

The Bearcats (7-27) return to action tomorrow afternoon, traveling to New Wilmington, PA to close out their season series with Westminster (15-20) with a single, nine-inning game beginning at 2pm.

PHOTO: Rob Patula works on the hill in the second inning of the opening game of SVC's doubleheader with Westminster