Just one week ago the Golden Rams’ baseball team had won a PSAC record 20 straight games. Since then they have lost five of their last six.
West Chester was swept by Shippensburg in a doubleheader on April 7 and then proceeded to drop three of four to Millersville last week. For the first time this entire year they have had trouble getting runs on the board. In the last six games the Rams have averaged just 2.6 runs per game, down almost six runs from their season average of 8.4 runs per game.
In game one of their twin bill with Shippensburg, WCU managed to scratch out only one run en route to a 3-1 loss. They did not fair much better in the second game, plating three runs but losing 7-3.
Dave Stieg pitched well in game one, allowing just three runs (only one earned) on four hits in his six innings of work, but he got no support.
The Rams’ lone run came in the fifth when a passed ball with two runners on base allowed Matt Baer to cross the plate. Baer, Josh Heyne, Jordan Wlodarczyk, and Justin Lamborn had the only hits for the Rams, with Lamborne’s double being the only extra base hit. The top four hitters in the order were a combined 0-11 with six strikeouts.
Game two was not much better for the Rams as they dropped the contest 7-3. Dylan Porter lasted on an inning and a third on the mound and was tagged for three runs on four hits while walking two in his short outing. Jordan Lehman and Kyle Weary each allowed two more runs in relief, and the West Chester bats could not keep pace.
Chris Pula was the Rams’ entire offense. He blasted a two-run shot in the first and knocked in the third West Chester run in the fourth inning with an RBI single. The remainder of the lineup scattered just four hits as they were swept for the first time in the 2012 season.
West Chester did manage to snap the two game skid in their next game against Millersville, barely topping the Mauraders 2-1 in the first meeting of the season. Jack Provine went 2-for-4 and Pula went 2-for-3 with a walk, but the Rams failed once again to come through with hits with runners on base. Their only two runs came on fourth inning sacrifice flies from Baer and Wlodarczyk.
The Rams received a great effort from Joe Gunkel on the hill, as he tossed a complete game and allowed just a run on seven hits.
This win streak would not be as long as their previous one however.
For the second straight day, WCU managed just two runs, and this time it was not enough to give them the victory over the Marauders.
Joe Wendle opened scoring in the third with an RBI triple to right field, and the Rams tacked on another run later in the inning with an RBI fielder’s choice. Then the bats fell silent. Between the fourth and seventh innings WCU scratched out just one hit, a single off the bat of Heyne.
The Marauders scored once in the third, and kept applying pressure. They finally broke out in the bottom of the seventh when a single, a throwing error, and a triple brought home the tying run and put the winning run on third with just one out. Weary, who replaced Fred Breidenbach after the triple, intentionally walked the next two hitters to load the bases in hoped of a double play, but a sacrifice fly ended the game and made Millersville walk off winners.
Having lost three of their last four, the Rams were in desperate need of at least a split last weekend when they took on Millersville at home. The Marauders had other plans as they swept the doubleheader by scores of 12-6 and 3-2.
Porter was on the hook for the loss in game one, and Stieg for game two, pitching four innings and allowing five runs (three earned).
Reid Pulford paced the Rams offensively in game one, collecting two hits and batting in three. Heyne was also 2-for-3 in the game.
One good sign for the Rams in the doublheader was when Joe Wendle hit his ninth home run of the season in game two, and laced his second triple three games. Wendle’s homer (which was also his team leading 30th RBI) came as a sigh of relief. Prior to the home run, Wendle had driven in just one run in the last week and his average (which had been around .470 all year), had dipped almost 40 points.
The sweep gave Millersville a 3-1 win in the season series, making them the only team so far this year to win the season series against the Rams.
The Golden Rams’ next game will be on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., when they head to Citizens Bank Park to take on Wilmington University (Del.) in the championship round of the annual Bill Giles Tournament.
Kenny Ayres is a second-year student majoring in communication studies. He can be reached at KA739433@wcupa.edu.