Image Credits: WCU Baseball
West Chester University baseball swept Shepherd University in a four-game PSAC East series, winning both games Friday before completing the sweep Saturday in a pivotal late season matchup. The wins moved the Golden Rams into a tie for first place in the PSAC East standings with East Stroudsburg.
West Chester (29-8, 14-6 PSAC East) took Game 1, 4-2, before scoring late to secure a 7-1 win in Game 2. Shepherd (24-17, 11-9) entered the series in first place and dropped to third in the East after the four losses, tightening the race at the top of the standings.
Shepherd scored first in the opener, scoring a run in the first inning on an RBI single by N. Rubendall after a leadoff double by B. Pullen. West Chester answered quickly, as Tanner Donati tied the game in the second with an RBI single.
The Golden Rams took control in the third when Patrick Gozdan delivered a key RBI, lining a two-run single to left to push West Chester in front 3-1.
West Chester added a run in the sixth on an RBI single from Carter Rust to make the score 4-1. Shepherd scored twice in the seventh on a home run, but reliever Landen Rozich worked out of the inning to secure the win.
Game 2 followed a similar start, as Shepherd scored first on a solo home run by R. Fluharty. West Chester was held hitless through four innings by D. Mattei before Hunter Smith lined a two-run double to center field and Christian Michak followed with a two-run single as part of a seven-run sixth inning that gave West Chester the lead.
Pitcher Luke Raho threw a complete game, allowing one run, as West Chester completed the Friday sweep.
West Chester’s offense carried over into Saturday, April 18, as the Golden Rams scored early in Game 3. Drew Simpson drove in the first run with an RBI single in the first, and Hunter Smith followed with an RBI single later in the inning to make it 2-0. A sacrifice bunt from Rust brought home another run in the second as West Chester took a 3-0 lead.
The Golden Rams extended their lead in the fourth when Austin Stalker hit an RBI single. Smith followed with a three-run home run to center field, extending WCU’s lead to 7-0.
West Chester added six more in the fifth inning when Rust hit a grand slam to center field. The lead grew to 13-1 when Stalker hit a two-run home run later in the inning.
Shepherd eliminated the chance of a shutout and scored three runs in the sixth on a pair of home runs. West Chester answered with 12 runs in the seventh, sending the lineup through the order and stretching the lead to 25-4.
Pitcher Kyle Lazer earned the win, allowing one run over four innings, while West Chester used multiple relievers to finish the game.
In the series finale, West Chester continued its offensive surge, scoring four runs in the first inning with RBI hits from Simpson and Michak. The Golden Rams added three more in the second, including a two-run home run by Stalker, to take a 7-0 lead.
West Chester extended the lead in the fourth inning. Landen Rozich led off with a home run and Stalker drove in two more with a double. Hunter Smith followed with an RBI double, and Patrick Gozdan added a two-run home run as the Golden Rams pushed the lead to 15-0.
Shepherd scored twice in the fourth and once in the seventh, but West Chester remained in control. Stalker added another home run in the fifth, and West Chester tacked on two more runs late to finish off an 18-3 victory.
Pitcher Kyle Kearns earned the win, allowing two runs over four innings, while the Golden Rams bullpen closed out the series.
West Chester returns to action Tuesday, April 21 against Jefferson University at Citizens Bank Park in the Bill Giles Invitational Championship.
Sophie Stair is a third year English major with minors in Journalism and Media & Culture SS1029515@wcupa.edu