WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Coming off a split yesterday in Millersville, the West Chester University baseball team returned to action on Sunday afternoon to closeout its four-game series against the Marauders with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East doubleheader at Serpico Field. The Golden Rams erased a nine-run deficit to take Sunday's opener 11-10 in 10 innings, before Millersville grabbed game two of the nightcap 7-2 in a contest was that was called after the fifth inning due to darkness.
West Chester moves to 22-12 overall and 12-8 in the PSAC following Sunday's split, while Millersville goes to 30-9 on the year behind a division-leading 17-3 mark in league games.
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GAME ONE: West Chester 11 | Millersville 10 (10)
- In the top of the first, Millersville raced out to an early 4-0 lead courtesy of four hits and some smart base running in between to grab the early advantage.
- The Marauders continued to roll in the second, as the visitors tacked on an additional three runs to extend their lead to 7-0 early.
- Millersville starter Cordell Shannon, who entered the game leading the PSAC with eight victories and 53 strikeouts, continued to hold WCU's offense in check through three with West Chester catcher JR Gifford (DOYLESTOWN, PA./ARCHBISHOP WOOD) – who reached on an error – representing the only Golden Ram to reach base through the first three frames of action.
- Up 7-0, Millersville loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, which led to an appearance by Culver Hughes (EXTON, PA./WEST CHESTER EAST) out of the bullpen to relieve starter David Mervis (GATHERSBURG, MD/GONZAGA). Hughes forced the one batter he faced to pop out to left to allow the Golden Rams to escape a tough spot without any more damage done.
- WCU's first hit of the afternoon came in the bottom of the fifth, as designated hitter Keith Flaherty (PHILADELPHIA, PA./ST JOSEPH'S PREP) sent a single to center field before being stranded on base following a strikeout and a line out.
- The home team tacked on its first run of the afternoon in the sixth after Joe Zirolli (KENNETT, PA./KENNETT SQUARE) tallied a RBI single to score Justin Horn (WILLOW GROVE, PA./UPPER DUBLIN) from second. Down by six,  Luke Cantwell (BROOMALL, PA./MARPLE NEWTOWN) sent his fourth home run of the season – a three-run shot to center – over the fence to hack the Millersville advantage to 7-4 entering the seventh.
- MU tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh frame to hand the Golden Rams a five-run deficit (9-4) entering the home half of the final inning.
- Horn cut the deficit to 9-5 during the seventh inning with a RBI single that scored Brian Verratti (PHILADELPHIA, PA. NEUMANN-GORETTI) to trim the deficit back down to four runs. This closed the book on Cordell Shannon who went 6.2 surrendering seven runs on seven hits while striking out six. After the pitching change, Melone continued the comeback bid with an RBI single to center, which scored Kyle Feaster (TROOPER, PA. METHACTION) to cut the deficit to 9-6. Zirolli completed the comeback with a three-run shot to left for his 11th home run of the season to even the score at 9-9 heading to the eighth.
- In the top of the eight, Andrew Scarpelli (LEWISBERRY, PA TRINITY) entered in relief and surrendered one run on three hits and one walk in his 0.2 of work before exiting in favor of Joe Peluso (DOYLESTOWN, PA. LASALLE) who got the final out of the inning to send the game to the home half of the eighth with West Chester trailing 10-9.
- Feaster evened the score once again with a sacrifice fly to right to send the game to the ninth tied at 10-10.
- In the 10th, Zach Spangenberg (CLARKS SUMMIT, PA./ABINGTON HEIGHTS) led off with a walk and he was followed by a walk from Verratti to give the Golden Rams two on with nobody out. Both runners advanced after a balk before Feaster was intentionally walked, which loaded the bases without an out on the board. With the bases juiced, Horn sent a rocket shot up the middle on a 2-1 count to give West Chester the 11-10 come-from-behind victory in 10 innings.
Horn paced the Golden Rams with three hits on Sunday, while Zirolli chipped in a team-high four RBI to go along with two hits and long ball. Cantwell's home run netted the freshman three RBI in Sunday's opener and Melone managed to record two hits and two runs to start the evening.
Nick Picariello (PHILADELPHIA, PA./GERMANTOWN ACADEMY) (2-1) got the W in game one after recording two key strikeouts in the 10th that secured the victory for the Golden Rams. Mervis lasted 4.2 innings and surrendered seven runs on eight hits while also striking out seven before exiting in favor of Hughes, who pitched the next 2.1 on the mound allowing two runs on two hits to keep West Chester within striking distance.Â
GAME TWO: West Chester 2 | Millersville 7 (5)
- Cole Friese put Millersville on the board in the top of the first with a home run to left.
- Down 0-1, Feaster matched Friese with a long ball of his own in the third - this one a two-run shot - to put the Golden Rams in front 2-1 through three frames.
- MU exploded for five runs in the fourth to crack the game wide open as the Marauders now held a 6-2 advantage entering the home half of the stanza.
- Krusinki singled in the bottom of the fourth, but he would be left stranded following a strikeout and a ground out.
- The visitors tacked on another run in the top of the fifth following a sacrifice fly from Christian Del Toro to push the MU lead to 7-2.
- The Golden Rams hopes of a comeback ended with three fly outs in the bottom of the fifth before the game was officially called due to darkness.
Feaster, Krusinski, Melone, and
Jon Hansen (CHERRY HILL, N.J. GEORGE MASON) each recorded one hit in the loss, with Feaster's two-run bomb in the third accounting for both of WCU's runs.
On the mound,
Scott McKenna (HAVERTOWN, PA./HAVERFORD) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits in 3.1 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
The Golden Rams continue conference play next weekend with a four-game series against Kutztown University.
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