No. 6 West Chester Holds No. 2 Colorado Mesa In Check, 1-0

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GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Senior Eric Close (Berwyn, Pa./Haverford) threw six shutout innings, and Josh McClain (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) came on in the seventh to record the save as sixth-ranked West Chester downed second-ranked Colorado Mesa, 1-0, in the NCAA D2 semifinals at AirHogs Stadium.
 
West Chester (43-11) will play for the national title for the second time in six years on Saturday at 3 p.m. against the winner of St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) versus UC San Diego Friday afternoon.
 
A vintage pitcher's duel on both sides, aided by a humid evening with the wind blowing straight in from center field, made runs hard to come by. Robert Knox (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) singled home Drew Jarmuz (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) in the top of the third inning for the lone run of the game.
 
Close (6-3) earned the win on the mound. He scattered five hits, walked three and struck out four. McClain came on to earn his 10th save of the season. He surrendered just two hits while walking one and striking out two. McClain is the first pitcher in school history to win 10 games and save 10 games in the same season.
 
On the other side of the field, Colorado Mesa (50-12) starter Taylor Prokopis (7-3) was the hard-luck loser on the hill. He allowed one run on three hits over five innings of work. He walked one and struck out two. Jake Mielock came on in the sixth and surrendered just one hit while walking one and striking out five over four innings.