Westmoreland campus clippings: Seton Hill baseball favored in PSAC West

After a 39-8 season that included a 23-4 mark in conference play, the Seton Hill baseball team is favored to win the PSAC West Division.

The Griffins won the Atlantic Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

The team returns PSAC West Rookie of the Year Owen Sabol (Norwin), a junior infielder, and senior relief pitcher Nash Bryan, a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-American, among others. Marc Marizzaldi was the conference coach of the year.

The Griffins will open the season ranked No. 9 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.

Softball

Seton Hill: These Griffins also were picked as the team to beat in the PSAC West Division in a preseason coaches poll.

Seton Hill finished 32-14 last season (25-7 PSAC) and reached the conference finals for the first time.

Grad student outfielder Jenna Osikowicz (Hempfield), sophomore Logan Hartman, the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year, and sophomore pitcher Lauren Dellett are among the top returnees.

All three were D2CCA and NFCA All-Region players.

Wrestling

Bucknell: Senior Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon) scored a first-period pin at 165 pounds on the way to the Bison’s 29-9 senior day win over American. The two-time All-American’s win marked his 26th career pin.

Sophomore Kurtis Phipps (Norwin) improved to 13-3 in duals this season with a decision at 133.

Iowa: No. 2-ranked 174-pounder Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) improved to 24-8 in his career against top-10-ranked opponents as he defeated No. 7 Ethan Smith, 14-9 in the Hawkeyes’ 21-12 win over Ohio State.

Pitt: Redshirt senior Micky Phillippi (Derry), ranked No. 7 in the nation at 133 pounds, held back No. 25 Angelo Rini, 9-3, as the 19th-ranked Panthers (7-5, 1-2 ACC) downed Columbia, 30-5.

Seton Hill: Grad student Tyler Alberts (157 pounds), senior 174-pounder Luke Ewing (Greensburg Salem) and sophomore heavyweight John Meyers (Greensburg Salem) picked up major decisions, and junior Brandon Matthews earned a pin as the Griffins topped East Stroudsburg, 24-16, in PSAC action.

The Griffins won on tiebreaker criteria after deadlocking Millersville, 21-21. Senior Frank Bonura (125 pounds) and Alberts were major-decision winners for Seton Hill.

Men’s volleyball

Thiel: Freshman JC Govanucci (Norwin) had 16 kills, five digs and two blocks as the Tomcats fell to Penn State Behrend, 3-2.

Men’s indoor track and field

Saint Vincent: The Bearcats had three winners at the Jim Wusle Invitational at Mount Union.

Junior Joey Bujdos won the 1,000-meter run in a school-record time of 2 minutes, 37.31 seconds, while he also anchored the distance medley relay that also won with a time of 10:56.11.

Other members of the team were junior Tyler Laughery (Norwin), Collin Wilson (Latrobe) and freshman Aiden Jackson.

Sophomore Tim Patterson, meanwhile, won the 3,000-meter run in 8:58.83.

Westminster: Junior Ryan Beard (Franklin Regional) took third place in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.20 seconds as the Dan Kinsey Invitational at Oberlin.

Junior Auggie Frohnen broke a school record in the shot put (12.58 meters) to take sixth in the event.

Women’s indoor track and field

Saint Vincent: Senior Sydney Green (Latrobe) won the 1,000-meter run at the Jim Wuske Invitational with a time of 3:15.61.

Women’s swimming

Gannon: Redshirt freshman Francesa Nemetz (Hempfield) won the 500-yard freestyle in 5:24.34 as the Golden Knights defeated Penn State Behrend, 215-70.

Football

Mercyhurst: Senior tight end Jason Armstrong (Latrobe) was named to the Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-American Team as an honorable mention.

Armstrong, a D2CCA All-Super Region Second Team pick and PSAC West first-teamer, had 37 receptions for 400 yards and four touchdowns this season for the Lakers.

Seton Hill: Senior linebacker Jaylen McDuffie and junior defensive back Damonte Pratt were named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American Team as honorable mention selections. McDuffie, an All-PSAC West and D2CCA Super Region I pick, led the Griffins with 105 tackles, 11 for loss.

Pratt finished with a school-record seven interceptions to go with 38 tackles and seven pass breakups.