LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Despite a career game by senior shortstop
Nick Ward (Kennett Square, Pa. / Unionville) in the opener, No. 6 West Chester was unable to combat a big offensive day by host Lock Haven and the visiting Golden Rams dropped both games of Friday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader by the scores of 14-12 and 15-1 at Watkins Field.
Friday's sweep drops West Chester to 10-5 overall and puts WCU at 0-2 to start conference play. Today's two defeats mark the first sweep that West Chester has suffered this season and second time in the last two years that the Golden Rams dropped two games to the Bald Eagles (10-3, 2-0 PSAC) in a series.
Game One – West Chester 12 | Lock Haven 14
- The Bald Eagles raced out to a big lead early in the first game, taking an 8-0 advantage into the third frame.
- Sophomore catcher Corey Webb (Easton, Pa. / Easton) scored West Chester's first run of the game in the top of the third – crossing home plate following a fielder's choice.
- Lock Haven added four more runs in the bottom of the third to go up 12-1, before a three-run home run by Ward sparked a 4-run fourth to bring the Golden Rams within seven (12-5).
- Trailing 14-7 in the sixth, junior outfielder Drew Jarmuz (Kennett Square, Pa. / Unionville) smashed a 3 RBI double to left and freshman Christian Bateman (Aston, Pa / Sun Valley) followed with a RBI single to score Jarmuz and bring the score to 14-9.
- The score remained knotted at 14-9 until Ward flashed his power once again – this time with a two-run bomb to center field – to bring West Chester within three (14-11) with two outs in the seventh. Senior Shane Dressler (York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) doubled in junior Jared Melone (North Wales, Pa. / North Penn) later in the inning to cut the deficit to two (14-12) but the Golden Ram's run would be ended with a strikeout on the following batter to end the inning and the game.
Ward logged a career-high five RBI and two home runs in the loss, while Jarmuz added three RBI against Lock Haven. Melone finished the opening game going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Webb went a-perfect 4-for-4 with four runs scored to start the afternoon.
On the mound, graduate student
Mike Cipolla (Newark, De / Charter School of Wilmington) (2-1) got saddled with the loss after allowing 12 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits in 2.2 innings pitched.
Game Two – West Chester 1 | Lock Haven 15
After tallying 15 hits in the opener, the Golden Rams' offense was only able to manufacture two hits in Friday's nightcap. Conversely, the Bald Eagles' potent offensive attack from game one carried over into the second affair, as Lock Haven blasted 11 hits in the second game to give the Bald Eagles 28 hits on the day overall.
- The host Bald Eagles came out of gate on fire in the second game, putting up five runs in the opening frame to go up 5-0 after the first inning.
- With his team trailing 5-0 in the top of fifth, junior Jon Hansen (Cherry Hill, N.J. / George Mason) connected on his first career home run to push the score to 5-1 through five.
- Lock Haven exploded with 10 runs over the next two stanzas to close out the game on top 15-1.
Hansen and Dressler were responsible for WCU's two hits in game two, with Hansen's home run accounting for the Golden Rams' lone RBI.
Freshman hurler
Zach Rice (Honey Brook, Pa. / Twin Valley) (3-1) earned his first loss of the season on Friday night, after surrendering 12 runs (seven earned) on eight hits in 4.1 innings tossed.
