WEST CHESTER, Pa.- A day that began with gray skies and consistent rain blossomed into a perfect Spring afternoon, and as the weather turned, so did the Golden Rams as West Chester (18-8) pushed aside memories from a pair of setbacks a day ago and rolled to a 32-3 victory over Salem (11-18) on Saturday afternoon.
Today's victory, which saw West Chester plate runs in six of eight innings, including a 10-run second inning, is the most runs the Golden Rams have scored since March 5th of the 2009 season vs U Sciences. Today's victory also marks the first time the Golden Rams have scored over 30 runs in a game since April 2, 2010, vs Mansfield.
John DeMucci (Swarthmore, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) set a new single-game RBI record with eight on the afternoon as he went 3-for-5 with eight RBI and six runs scored after hitting a grand slam in a 10-run second inning for West Chester. DeMucci was one of eight Golden Rams to record a multi-hit afternoon and one of 12 to record a hit in the victory. His six runs scored also tied a single-game mark at WCU. He is the third player in school history to score six runs in a game.
Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) also went 5-for-6 in the win with five RBI and five runs scored, including a three-run home run, while
Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway) was 4-for-6 with a pair of RBI and four runs scored.
The second inning was the turning point in the game as West Chester took a 1-0 first-inning lead and extended it to 11 with a 10-run inning, courtesy of eight hits and a pair of errors by the Tigers as 14 Golden Rams made their way to the plate during the big inning.
Salem kept West Chester's bats in check during the third inning and got a pair of runs back in the top of the fourth, but West Chester countered with an eight-run home half, including the first collegiate home run by Costa to take a 19-2 lead and erase any thoughts of a comeback by the visitors.
West Chester continued to apply pressure to the Salem defense, scoring 13 runs over the next three innings, including six in the sixth in the Golden Rams' best offensive showing since the 2009 season.
David Ferguson (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) (4-1) got the start and delivered crucial length for the Golden Rams, tossing six strong innings, surrendering just two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out five in the victory. West Chester also got strong work out of its bullpen as
Joe Martino (Chalfont, Pa./C.B. South) and
Jeb Kurtz (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) each delivered a scoreless inning in the seventh and ninth, respectively.
Nick Noga (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove) also worked an inning in relief for the Golden Rams, pitching the eighth, allowing just one run on one hit while also striking out one.
For Salem, Tyler Sammons got the starting nod and lasted just 1.2 innings, being charged with nine runs (five earned) on seven hits while striking out one for his second (1-2) loss of the season.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Wednesday afternoon against Chestnut Hill beginning at 3 p.m. inside Serpico Stadium in what will serve as the first round of the Bill Giles Classic. Chestnut Hill is making its first appearance in that Division II tournament of Philadelphia area schools.
