Image: Darius Troche in action via wcupagoldenrams.com (photo by Samantha Yothers)
The West Chester University (WCU) baseball team swept Kutztown University in their doubleheader Friday, March 28. The Golden Rams extended their undefeated home streak, dominating 11-0 in the opener before battling back for a 3-2 comeback win in game two.
WCU’s starting pitcher for game one, Julian Costa, played a great game, allowing just two hits while striking out eight over six shutout innings.
Anthony Boccio, originally from Coatesville, Pa., put WCU on the board first with a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Jake Welsch, originally from Glenmoore, Pa., who had been hit by a pitch, to lead off the inning to score.
The Golden Rams doubled their lead in the second inning when a high throw on what would have been the third out of the inning allowed Casey Vaughan, originally from Springfield, Pa., to race home.
After two scoreless innings, WCU erupted for nine runs on seven hits. Austin Stalker, originally from Wycombe, Pa, launched a two-run homer to right, while Boccio and Avery Spencer, originally from Pottsgrove, Pa., each contributed a run batted in (RBI) singles. Ben Bolhouse, originally from Chadds Ford, Pa., and Sean Szestowicki, originally from Mount Royal, N.J., each contributed an RBI double to complete the scoring surge.
Game two was a lot closer, as Kutztown scored two early runs in the first inning on just three hits. Starting pitcher Nick Noga, originally from Avondale, Pa., was able to get out of the inning with a 4-6-3 double play, with Kutztown leading 2-0.
Bolhouse drove in a run with a double into the left-center gap during the bottom of the first, putting WCU on the board. Bolhouse advanced to third on a wild pitch with two outs, allowing him to score on a single by Spencer, tying the game at 2-2.
WCU took its first lead in the fourth when Welsch hit a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Stalker, who had walked, stole second and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt.
Noga finished the day with six hits and two runs in five innings, including one strikeout.
Last week, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) named Ryan DeHaven PSAC East Pitcher of the Week. With this honor, WCU has now had a different pitcher earn Pitcher of the Week honors each of the last four weeks. DeHaven’s recognition marks the fourth consecutive week that a West Chester University pitcher has earned Pitcher of the Week.
The week prior to receiving the nomination, DeHaven pitched 10 innings over the course of two appearances, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six. On March 23, against East Stroudsburg, DeHaven picked up his first save of the season, throwing two scoreless innings and needing just 21 pitches to seal a 4-3 comeback victory, helping the Golden Rams split the series with the Warriors.
Taking a short break from the PSAC East, WCU took on Jefferson University during the first round of the Bill Giles Classic this past Tuesday, March 25. The Division II Invitational, in honor of former Phillies chairman and honorary NL President William “Bill” Yale Giles, was created to give local Philadelphia college baseball teams the opportunity to play on a major league field. The championship game is held at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. West Chester baseball has won the last two tournaments and 14 total since the Invitational was introduced in 2001. The win against Jefferson will send the Golden Rams back to Citizens Bank Park on April 8, giving them the opportunity to defend their crown for the third year in a row.
Sophie Stair is a second-year English major with a minor in Journalism