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Box Score 2 SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – West Chester's pitching staff held Shippensburg under five runs in both games of a doubleheader to allow the Golden Rams to score a combined 15 runs for a 6-4 and 9-5 victory on Baseball versus Cancer Day inside Fairchild Field Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Rams (12-4, 3-1 PSAC) fell behind early in each game, but found a way to take the lead in game one and two to secure three wins in two days against the Red Raiders. Shippensburg (8-13, 1-3 PSAC) would be held scoreless in the last five innings of game one, after taking a 4-1 lead and be limited to one run each in five innings of play in game two.
Right-handed pitcher
Andrew Gernert (Lenhartsville, Pa./Kutztown) allowed four runs on seven hits, while striking out seven in six innings of game two for his second victory in three starting opportunities. He threw 126 pitches in a gutty performance.
Eric Close (Berwyn, Pa./Haverford) recorded his first win of the season, after pitching four innings, giving up four runs with three coming in the first three innings, while walking four. In the second game, the Red Raiders took an early 2-0 lead through two innings, but WCU came back by putting up a five spot in the top of the third.
Mike O'Neil (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.) came in to close out three innings for his sixth save of the year.
Senior
Drew Diehl (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) went 3-for-8 in the leadoff spot with two home runs on the day (both solo) and a double, knocking in two RBI and scoring three runs. Senior first baseman
Justin Roman (Berwyn, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) went a combined 3-for-8 as well, knocking in four runs and scoring two runs himself. He smashed a homer with two outs in the top of the sixth, after Diehl hit one a batter earlier in game two.
Catcher
Bill Ford (Parkside, Pa./Malvern Prep) went 3-for-6 for two RBI and a run scored. Junior
Anthony Salomone (Dillsburg, Pa./North York) knocked in three RBI on two hits, including a double and a walk.
Red Raiders' Austin Allison put up a 3-for-7 line combined in two games for two RBIs on three singles.
West Chester moves on to take on Wilmington (Del.) on March 23 at 3 p.m. to begin the Bill Giles Tournament.
