Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Ben Spezialetti scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two, lifting host West Chester to a doubleheader sweep over visiting Mansfield, 9-0 and 2-1, Friday afternoon at Serpico Stadium.
West Chester (15-8-1, 6-0 PSAC East) remained unbeaten in league play while pushing its current winning streak to eight games and 10 of its last 11. Mansfield (7-10, 0-6) is still in search of its first conference win. The Golden Rams kept pace with Kutztown, who swept Shippensburg, in the Eastern Division with the sweep.
West Chester beat Chestnut Hill on Wednesday when Spezialetti scored on a wild pitch with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.
Tyler Coleman singled to lead off the seventh in the Rams’ final at bats, and Kyle Frazier bunted him over to second. Spekhardt followed with a ground out that moved Spezialetti, inserted to run for Coleman, over to third base with two outs. Mike Raimo then drew a walk, and Jack Provine was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Coleman was also responsible for West Chester’s other run with a single through the left side with one out in the second that put the Golden Rams on top, 1-0. Mansfield got an unearned run in the fourth to tie things up at 1-1.
Fred Breidenbach (2-2) threw a complete game, allowing one unearned run on four hits while walking one and striking out five.
In the opener, junior right-handed ace Joe Gunkel (5-1) was masterful once again, overpowering the Mountaineers’ hitters. He scattered three hits over seven innings and struck out eight, without walking a batter, to register his third shutout and fifth complete game. The big righty was very efficient once again, throwing just 86 pitches to get the win.
West Chester scored two in the first, four in the fourth and three more in the fifth to keep control of the game and provide all the support Gunkel would need.
Provine finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI while Raimo knocked in a pair of runs as well. Justin Lamborn and Jordan Wlodarczyk were each 2-for-4. Wlodarczyk and Nick Bonadies each scored two runs.
West Chester and Mansfield finish up their conference four-game series Saturday in Mansfield with a 1 p.m. start.
