Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Senior left fielder Matt Baer hit a three-run home run in game one, and Joe Gunkel pitched a complete-game, five-hitter, but visiting Kutztown answered with an 8-0 shutout in the nightcap to earn a split of a PSAC baseball doubleheader Friday afternoon at Serpico Stadium.
West Chester (28-7, 12-6 PSAC East) maintained its two-game lead on both Kutztown (27-14, 10-8) and Shippensburg in the race for first place in the Eastern Division standings of the conference.
Baer hit his 3-run shot off the top of the scoreboard in left field to help stake West Chester to a 5-0 lead in the third inning. From there, sophomore righty Gunkel (6-0) carried the load the rest of the way to give the Golden Rams a win in game one. Gunkel did not walk a batter and struck out three.
In the nightcap, Kutztown slugger Shayne Houck hit a grand slam, his seventh home run of the season, as the Golden Bears captured an 8-0 victory. Kutztown’s two pitchers walked nine West Chester batters, but the host Rams could not take advantage of the free passes in the loss.
Fred Breidenbach (5-2) suffered the loss in game two for West Chester. He lasted four innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits.
Mike Raimo registered both of West Chester’s hits in the second game. He went 2-for-2. Reid Pulford was 2-for-3 in the opener as well.
West Chester and Kutztown finish off their four-game weekend conference series on Saturday at Kutztown. The doubleheader has been moved to 11 a.m.
