Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Joe Gunkel tossed a complete-game, two-hitter in the nightcap to help West Chester salvage a split of its PSAC East twinbill against Millersville at Marauder Park on a beautiful Friday afternoon.
West Chester (6-8, 1-1 PSAC East) dropped the opener, 4-3, but rebounded for a 4-0 shutout over Millersville (12-4, 1-1).
Gunkel (2-1) was masterful on the hill in the nightcap, striking out eight and walking just three in the seventh. He struck out Jeff Heisey with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the shutout and clinch the win.
Matt Baer hit a three-run homer in the top of the sixth that put the visitors on top, 4-0. That was all that freshman Gunkel needed to pick up the win. Baer knocked in all four runs, adding a sacrifice fly in the second inning that scored the first run of the game.
Brandon Wolfe reached base three times with a single and a pair of walks. He scored a run as well.
In the opener, West Chester loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth inning. However, the Rams could only push across one run on a sacrifice fly by Justin Lamborn to pull within one, 4-3. That was the visitor’s last scoring opportunity of the contest.
Matt Zielinski (1-1) was roughed up for four runs in the bottom of the first inning, but settled down and faced just one over the minimum the rest of the way. Zielinski yielded four runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out three overall. He allowed just four baserunners after the first inning – two of which were cut down stealing and another was erased in a double play.
In all, West Chester’s pitching threw 13 of 14 shutout innings. Millersville’s first inning of game one was its only taste of success against the Rams’ hurlers.
Reid Pulford, Josh Heyne and Joe Wendle collected the only hits of game one for West Chester. Pulford finished with a pair of RBI as well.
West Chester and Millersville will complete their four-game conference series on Saturday at Serpico Stadium. First pitch of the doubleheader will be at 1 p.m.
