NORRISTOWN, Pa. – The West Chester University baseball team took a step outside of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play on Thursday, as the Golden Rams headed to Norristown to square off against Chestnut Hill in a non-conference contest at the Latshaw-McCarthy Field. Sparked by a long ball from
Joe Zirolli (KENNETT, PA./KENNETT SQUARE), the Golden Rams hung four runs on the Griffins in the top of the ninth inning to give the visitors the 16-14 come-from-behind victory on Thursday evening.
Thursday's victory moves the Golden Rams to 20-10 on the year and pushes West Chester's winning streak over the Griffins to five games. West Chester's 16 runs on Thursday were the most for the squad in its last 22 contests and the team's 19 hits against CHC tied a season high set in a 17-5 WCU victory over Augustana back in March.
Jared Melone (NORTH WALES, PA./NORTH PENN) got things rolling for the Golden Rams with a two-run home run in the first and
Kyle Feaster (TROOPER, PA./METHACTION) followed with a two-run shot of his own in the second to put West Chester in front 4-3 through the first two frames.
The visitor's offense, which ranks fifth in the PSAC with 217 total runs scored, added five more runs over the next three innings to put the Golden Rams ahead 9-3 entering the home half of the fifth. Chestnut Hill (22-19) answered back in a big way in the bottom of the fifth, as the Griffins tacked on six runs in the frame to square the game at 9-9 through five.
In the sixth, Zirolli connected on the first of his two home runs on the day – this one a two-run shot to left – to put the visitors back in front 11-9, before Chestnut Hill responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the stanza to give CHC the 13-11 advantage.
Both teams added a run in the eighth to bring the score to 14-12 entering the final inning of action. Melone sacrificed in Feaster to bring the score to 14-13 and Zirolli followed with his second bomb of the day to give the Golden Rams the one-run lead with one out. Up by one,
Corey Webb (EASTON, PA./EASTON) slapped his fifth double of the season – scoring
Zach Wright (BURLINGTON COUNTRY, NJ/NORTHERN BURLINGTON COUNTY REGIONAL) – to put the Purple & Gold in front, 14-12.
Chestnut Hill only managed one hit in the bottom of the ninth, as reliever
Andrew Scarpelli (LEWISBERRY, PA/TRINITY) struck out one down the stretch to give the senior his first save of the season in a 16-14 West Chester victory.
Feaster paced WCU with four hits to go along with three RBI and a homer, while Zirolli set a new season high with five RBI and two long balls in the win. Melone went 3-for-4 with four RBI and a home run on Thursday and
Luke Cantwell (BROOMALL, PA./MARPLE NEWTOWN) notched a season-high three hits against Chestnut Hill.
Reliever
Tim Edwards (HERSHEY, PA./HERSHEY) earned his second win of the season as the sixth WCU pitcher used on the day, as starter
Culver Hughes (EXTON, PA./WEST CHESTER EAST) was taken out in the third frame after giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits.
SCHEDULE NOTE
Tomorrow's schedule doubleheader between the Golden Rams and Millersville, which was originally scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m in West Chester, has been postponed due to weather. A makeup date and time for that doubleheader is still being determined.
