West Chester Wins Slugfest With Philadelphia University, 20-15

Box Score

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. – Nick Ward (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) went 3-for-3 with five runs scored while Corey Webb was 3-for-6 with three RBI as West Chester outlasted Philadelphia University in a good ole fashioned slugfest on the final day at the Division II Baseball Challenge Sunday.
 
West Chester (3-1) put a bow on its weekend with 20 runs on 16 hits while Philadelphia University (0-4) kept pace with 15 runs on 17 hits. It was the most combined runs in a game involving West Chester since a 30-6 victory over Mansfield in 2010.
 
The Golden Rams jumped on the Rams early with a six-run first inning. They added one more in the second and then two in the fourth and three in the fifth that afforded WCU a 12-1 advantage. PhilaU responded with a seven-run fifth and tacked on another in the sixth to pull within striking distance at 12-9. However, West Chester plated three more in the seventh and then five in the top of the ninth for a 20-11 lead. PhilaU pushed across four in its final at bats, but could not complete the comeback bid.
 
Nick Bateman (Aston, Pa./Malvern), Joe Sheeran (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Anthony Salamone (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) all knocked in three runs, along with Webb.
 
Andrew Gernert (Lenhartsville, Pa./Kutztown) started and threw four solid innings, before running into trouble in the fifth. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out four. Tim Edwards (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) relieved him in the fifth and picked up his first win as a Golden Ram. He threw four innings, surrendering three runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out six. Dalton Reed (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) pitched the ninth.
 
West Chester will be back on the diamond March 11 down in Florida against Ashland (Ohio).