Box Score WEST CHESTER, Pa. – On a cold and cloudy Thursday afternoon, the West Chester Golden Rams baseball squad defeated the University of the Sciences, 10-5, in the semifinals of the Bill Giles Classic at Serpico Stadium.
The Golden Rams (14-7) racked up 15 hits, only going hitless in the seventh inning, to open a 9-1 lead through six. University of the Sciences (2-18) scored three runs in the top of the ninth, but it was a little too little and a little too late, after committing three errors in the third and opened the door for the Golden Rams to score their first three runs unearned and create a comfortable lead for the rest of the game. The Devils struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but it would be the last until the seventh.
The top of the Golden Rams' lineup has been consistent all season long and continued to produce with centerfielder
Drew Diehl (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) reaching base three times while collecting two RBI and scoring two runs. He was followed by PSAC player of the week,
Dylan Tice (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge), who went 2-for-4 from the plate with two doubles and a walk, rounding the bases for three runs and adding a RBI to stretch the lead.
Junior,
Luke Mogle (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) got the start in right field and continued his hitting ways, after going 3-for-6 in a doubleheader with Mansfield. He was 2-for-4 with two RBI Thursday. Sophomore pitcher
Mike Cipolla (Newark, Del./Charter School Wilmington) received his first win in his first start of the season. He kept the Science's hitters off balance, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out three and walking one in six innings of work.
Devils' left-hander Paul Vento suffered the loss after coming in for Mike Janas in the bottom of the third. He allowed three unearned runs that put West Chester in front for good, 3-1. The inning started with a dropped fly ball. A throwing error put two runners on base with nobody out and the raining PSAC player of the week coming up to the plate for West Chester. Tice launched a RBI double to left center, moving Diehl to third. Then,
Matt Petrizzi (Levittown, Pa./Conwell-Egan) came up and tacked on another run as Diehl scored and Tice moved to third. He eventually scored on the third error of the inning as the catcher tried to throw out Petrizzi stealing second base, but sailed the throw into center field, giving Tice enough time to walk home and wrap up a three-run frame for the Golden Rams. Three players knocked in one RBI each for the Sciences for three earned runs.
West Chester will take on PSAC East rival Lock Haven on Sunday at 1 p.m., before heading down Broad Street to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 15th a 3:30 p.m. to take on Wilmington (Del.) in the finals of the Bill Giles Classic. The Golden Rams will try to avenge last year's 7-2 loss to Wilmington in the Classic.
