Box Score
WEST LAWN, Pa. – Jason Bowman threw a nine-inning complete game as No. 7 West Chester topped PSAC rival Mercyhurst, 6-2, in the winner’s bracket final of the 2009 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional baseball tournament on an overcast and windy afternoon at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park.
West Chester (45-10) equaled the team’s single-season record for wins from a year ago. The Golden Rams will make their fourth straight appearance in the regional finals Sunday afternoon when they face the loser’s bracket champion, which will be determined Saturday night. Game one of the championship series begins at 12 p.m. The Rams’ opponent will have to beat West Chester twice to capture the regional championship.
The winner of that series advances to the 2009 NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C. on May 23-30.
Bowman (6-3) picked up the 24th win of his career, scattering 12 hits, only one for extra bases, while striking out six and walking none. It marked the second nine-inning complete game of his career and first since his freshman year.
“There were some questions early on as to whether he had his good stuff,” Mamula said about Bowman. “But, I think he began to feel it, and he really got stronger as the game went on.
“Once we got a lead, (Bowman) started being more aggressive and getting more of the plate.”
“(Coach Mamula) talks about getting ground balls early in the count and that’s what we try to do,” Bowman said. “Mercyhurst is a very good hitting team, so I just let my defense play behind me.”
West Chester broke open a 1-1 ballgame with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Mercyhurst starter Adam Gray had held the Golden Rams to one run on two hits until the fateful fifth when the Rams banged out five hits, including two doubles.
Joe Wendle led off with a walk and Josh Heyne followed with a bunt single, pushing the ball past a sliding Gray in the infield. Kevin McGrath moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, before Nick Spisak responded with a two-run single to left.
“We try to take the same approach at the plate in every inning,” Spisak said. “If we do that, then it’s just a matter of time before we start swinging the bats.”
Matt Cotellese followed with an RBI double to left-center, plating Spisak. Blair Dameron then singled, and Charlie Kelly chased home Cotellese and Dameron with a two-run double to the 385-foot sign in left-center.
“We had some good at bats early in the game. I always had faith that the bats would come alive for us,” Bowman added. The senior right-hander threw 126 pitches, 91 for strikes in the complete-game effort.
The Golden Rams took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Kelly reached on an error and stole second. Bob Stumpo grounded out to right side, advancing Kelly to third, and Kyle Orensky singled to left to score Kelly.
Mercyhurst (37-16) came right back, tying the contest in the top of the third. Joe Furner doubled down the left field line and Trey Bennett singled up the middle. Jonathan Keppler then grounded into a double play, but Furner scored to knot things up at 1-apiece.
Keppler put Mercyhurst on top 2-1 with an RBI single in the top half of the fifth inning. It marked the first time all weekend that West Chester trailed. However, the Rams responded with five runs in its half, and Bowman took it from there.
Cotellese finished 2-for-4 with an RBI while Dameron and Heyne each turned in a pair of hits for the Golden Rams.
John Blike was 3-for-4 for Mercyhurst. Furner was 2-for-3.
Gray (4-3), who took the loss against West Chester in the PSAC Championship game a week ago, lasted six innings, giving up six runs, five of them earned, on seven hits. He walked three and struck out three. Thurman Schaetzle relieved Gray in the seventh and finished up, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out two without giving up a run.
“You could tell after today’s game that these guys weren’t satisfied,” Mamula commented. “Last year Kutztown had to beat us twice on the last day of the conference tournament, and they did. So, we know that there is a lot of baseball left to play.”
Sunday’s regional championship will be broadcast live on Red Zone Media (www.redzonemedia.com) and live stats will be available on the tournament’s web site at www.kubears.com.
