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WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Rob Spekhardt sliced a single to left-center with one out in the bottom of the seventh to cap a three-run rally in West Chester’s final at bats as the host Golden Rams earned a split of their PSAC East baseball doubleheader with visiting East Stroudsburg, 4-3, at a sunny, but windy, Serpico Stadium Saturday.
West Chester (17-11-1, 8-2 PSAC East) dropped a 3-2 ballgame in eight innings to East Stroudsburg (19-9, 5-5) in the opener. The Golden Rams scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh of that game to force the extra frame, before the Warriors won it in their next at bat.
West Chester’s three runs in the bottom of the seventh were all unearned as Chris Pula reached on a fielding error by ESU’s shortstop with one out in the inning. Jordan Wlodarczyk followed with a single thru the left side, and Justin Roman then singled thru the right side, scoring Pula and moving pinch runner Ben Spezialetti up to third base. Spezialetti scored on a wild pitch from Colin Taylor (3-1), and then Tyler Coleman walked, and Kyle Frazier reached on a fielder’s choice as Coleman was cut down at second base. Rob Lessig, pinch-running for Roman, moved up to third.
Spekhardt then hit his single into left-center where ESU left-fielder Andy Brandstetter, on a dead run, laid out in an attempt to catch the line drive. But, he could not make the catch, and the ball rolled to the wall while Lessig walked home.
Fred Breidenbach (3-2) went the distance on the hill and got the win. He allowed three runs, two of them earned, on five hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
East Stroudsburg starter Ryan Lubreski was impressive until the seventh. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits. However, he could not finish the seventh, and ESU head coach John Kochmansky went to Taylor to try to pick up the save. However, Taylor only retired one batter he faced.
In the opener, West Chester got run-scoring singles from Coleman and Roman in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2. However, Eric Boyer hit a two-out single to center that scored Brandstetter with the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth. West Chester’s Chris Pula hit a two-out triple in the bottom half of the inning, but was stranded there to end the game.
Joe Gunkel (5-2) suffered the loss, despite pitching an excellent game. He scattered five hits and allowed just three runs over eight innings while walking two and striking out 11.
East Stroudsburg starter Brian Ernst was just as impressive. He took a no-hitter into the seventh, before Pula doubled to break it up and start the two-run rally for the hosts. Ernst threw 6.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He struck out 12 and walked three. Taylor got the win in relief.
West Chester and East Stroudsburg go at it again on Sunday in East Stroudsburg in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
