The West Chester University Golden Rams (33-9, 18-2 PSAC East) completed a four-game sweep of division opponent Bloomsburg University over the weekend and defeated Wilmington University in a non-league game to increase their first place lead in the PSAC East. West Chester has now won 10 consecutive games, and 19 of their last 20. Saturday, in game one at Litwhiler Field, West Chester continued its dominance over Bloomsburg, winning the contest 13-7. Left fielder Kevin McGrath got the offense going, leading off with a solo homerun in the first inning. Matt Cotellese added a two-run homer of his own in the Rams’ half of the third inning. McGrath finished game one going 2-for-4 with two homeruns and three RBI. Cotellese was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
David Slusser won his fifth (5-1) game of the season, throwing five innings, giving up nine hits and five runs. Joe Opalka, Billy Huntzinger and Carmen Daddario came on in relief to pitch the final two innings of the game.
In game two of Saturday’s doubleheader the Golden Rams scored six runs in the second inning to lead the game 6-1, and eventually went on to win 11-7. Kyle Orensky led off with a solo homerun in the second inning. McGrath hit a three-run homerun and Blair Dameron drove in two with a single. In the third inning, catcher Bob Stumpo smashed a two-run homerun to give West Chester insurance runs. Nick Spisak collected three hits in the nightcap, McGrath and Dameron each drove in three runs.
Bret Moyer won his seventh game of the season (7-1) pitching four innings, giving up just five hits and surrendering six runs, only three of which were earned. Closer Eric Carmichael pitched the final three innings of the game to pick up his sixth save of the season.
On Friday afternoon underneath sunny skies, West Chester outscored Bloomsburg 22-2 between both games of the doubleheader held at Serpico stadium. In game one, the Rams’ scored 11 runs to win the game comfortably 11-1. Starting pitcher Jason Bowman pitched five no-hit innings to earn himself his third win on the season (3-3).
In Bowman’s five innings of work he walked two and struck out five Bloomsburg batters. Carmen Daddario came on to pitch the final two innings. The Rams no-hit bid was broken up in the sixth inning by Bloomsburg’s Tony Donofry who hit a single. West Chester’s first basemen Dameron was 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored. He added his eleventh homerun of the season and was a triple shy of the cycle.
In game two of Friday’s doubleheader West Chester beat Bloomsburg by the same score of 11-1. Connor Kerins won his sixth game of the season (6-1). Kerins gave up just six hits in six innings while striking out four batters. Cotellese, Joe Wendle and Stumpo supplied the offense for the Golden Rams. Cotellese was 3-for-4 with two doubles, Wendle and Stumpo contributed with two RBI each to help give West Chester the win.
On Monday, April 13 West Chester traveled to Delaware to take on Wilmington University. Senior first basemen Dameron lead the way hitting two homeruns in a 14-8 non-league victory for the Golden Rams. Kevin McGrath posted three hits including a homerun and two doubles. Cotellese contributed with three hits, one of them a homerun. Senior pitcher Jordan Lehman recorded his second win of the season, pitching five innings and giving up four runs.
The West Chester Golden Rams baseball team is now in first place leading the PSAC East by two games over their rival Kutztown University.
The Golden Rams take on Columbia Union at Serpico stadium starting at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. On Thursday West Chester hosts a doubleheader against Shippensburg University, game one starts at 1:00 p.m. Friday the Rams will travel to Shippensburg for another PSAC East doubleheader.
Steven Fisher is a second-year student majoring in communications with a minor in Journalism. He can be reached at SF674180@wcupa.edu.