WEST CHESTER, PA – They say baseball players are very superstitious. Well, there is no bigger superstition than to … "Beware the ides of March".
Six errors led to 12 unearned runs as visiting Shippensburg swept a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader from host West Chester at Serpico Stadium Friday afternoon.
West Chester (10-3, 3-3 PSAC East) committed two errors that led to four unearned runs in game one as Shippensburg (10-6, 4-2) prevailed by a score of 10-6. Four miscues led to eight unearned runs in the nightcap as Shippensburg took that contest by the measure of 8-4.
The Raiders' Austin Baal hit a three-run home run in the top of the first that put the visitors on top early. West Chester would eventually scratch together four runs and take a one-run lead after four. However, Baal hit a two-run double in the fifth to give Shippensburg the lead for good, 5-4.
A two-run double and another three-run homer in the sixth opened up a 10-4 lead for the Raiders. West Chester answered with four of its own in the bottom of the sixth. But, that was as close as the home team would get.
John DeMucci (Swarthmore, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) walked with the bases loaded in the sixth,
Anthony Boccio (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) singled home a run,
Avery Spencer (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove) was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced and
Casey Vaughan (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) hit a sacrifice fly to score the Golden Rams' fourth run of the sixth.
Boccio finished the opener 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI while DeMucci also knocked in a pair of runs.
Darius Troche (Shillington, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) hit his first home run of the season as well.
Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) took the loss on the mound to fall to 1-2 on the year. He allowed five runs on 10 hits in five innings of work. He struck out six.
In the nightcap,
Joe Sperone (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) took the loss on the hill despite not allowing an earned run. All eighth Shippensburg runs were unearned. He went the distance, allowing eight hits, walking one and striking out three. Except for a four-run second and a three-run fourth – both aided by errors – Sperone pitched a good ballgame.
Evan Profy (Croydon, Pa./Harry S. Truman) went 3-for-4 with a pair of bunt singles in the second game. Boccio finished 1-for-2 to turn in a 3-for-5 day at the plate overall in the twinbill.
The two sides will finish up their conference four-game series with a doubleheader at Fairchild Field Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
