Box Score
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Matt Cotellese’s slump is officially over – even if the star slugger won’t admit it himself.
“Well, give it another day or two,” Cotellese said. “But, I am feeling a lot better (at the plate).I’ve tried to stay back, swing at the right pitch and not pull away so much.”
Entering West Chester’s second-round NCAA North Atlantic Regional Friday afternoon, Cotellese was 3 for his last 26 at bats without an RBI in the Golden Rams’ last eight games. Against Concord, Cotellese went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead a four-run comeback by the Rams as West Chester (43-14) advanced in the double-elimination tournament with a 7-4 victory over Concord (35-15) on a rainy and cold afternoon at Point Stadium.
The Golden Rams will take on the winner of Friday night’s tilt between Shippensburg and tournament host Pitt-Johnstown
Cotellese started the comeback in the sixth inning when he hit a towering two-run home run, his 11th of the season, over the 50-foot high netting in left field that may have landed somewhere up on Route 219. West Chester fed off of that blast and the energy it generated to rap out 10 hits and seven runs over the game’s final four innings.
But, more importantly, it made the players forget about the first half of the contest when Concord scored four runs, aided by four West Chester errors.
“I told them this was a good team win,” Rams head coach Greg Mamula said. “We very easily could have gotten frustrated because we weren’t playing defense. That’s where you fall apart sometimes.”
A big reason West Chester didn’t come apart at the seams was junior pitcher Jason Bowman (10-1). The big right-hander went about his business, even after giving up a leadoff home run in the first inning and then watching two miscues allow two more runs to cross, that put the top seed in a 3-0 hole very early.
“He could have gotten frustrated by what was happening behind him,” Mamula said. “But, that’s the veteran presence in him to know he has to keep his focus and keep going after (hitters).”
“We all knew (Bowman) was pitching a great game,” Cotellese added. “I don’t think anything needed to be said. He was keeping us in it, and we knew things would eventually turn around.”
Bowman tossed eight innings, scattering five hits and four runs, only two of which were earned, while striking out five and not giving up a walk. He equaled the school record for wins in a season with his 10th victory this spring.
For the second day in a row, lefty closer Eric Carmichael pitched the ninth to pick up his 10th save of the year. He started a brilliant game-ending double play to send Concord home for the summer with its second loss of the tournament.
Cotellese eclipsed a school record of his own with his 4-for-5 showing. The junior outfielder now has 82 hits on the season, surpassing former teammate Joey Yeager’s record of 81 hits in 2006.
“(The record) is good as long as the team keeps winning games,” Cotellese said. “Yeager told me a couple of weeks ago that I better break the record.”
Cotellese doubled with one out in the eighth and West Chester trailing by one (4-3). Following a strikeout, Kyle Bechter laced a two-out double to left-center plating Cotellese with the tying run. Bob Stumpo then doubled to right-center, trading places with Bechter, and giving the Rams their first lead of the ballgame.
Drew Pare finished 2-for-5 and Frank Nunan 2-for-4 to support the offensive effort.
West Chester is halfway home in its search for the North Atlantic Regional title and the accompanying trip to the 2008 NCAA Division II College World Series. That journey continues on Saturday against either Shippensburg or Pitt-Johnstown at 11 a.m. in the winners’ bracket final.
A victory Saturday would put the Golden Rams in the regional championship against whoever comes out of the loser’s bracket. A loss tomorrow morning means a second game of the day at 7 p.m.
