SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV – West Chester University swept homestanding Shepherd University Friday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division baseball doubleheader. The 30th-ranked Golden Rams took game one by the score of 5-2 and downed the Rams, 12-3, in the next game.
West Chester (31-5, 17-5 PSAC East) reached the 30-win plateau in the regular season for the 14th time in school history and the first since 2018. Its 31 wins are the most in a single season since that campaign as well. Shepherd (15-19, 10-12) remains in fifth place in the Eastern Division standings.
The Golden Rams' win in the first game of the doubleheader tied the school record for consecutive wins in a single season at 20, which was set by the 2012 National Championship team, and game two's victory broke the school mark.
Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway Regional) went 3-for-3 in the opening game with a double and RBI. Evan Profy (Croydon, Pa./Harry S. Truman) was 2-for-4.
On the hill, Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) threw six strong innings to improve to 7-2 on the year. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out 11. Kyle Lazer (Havertown, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) pitched the seventh.
West Chester broke open a 2-1 ballgame with a three-run sixth. Anthony Boccio (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) started the rally by being hit by a pitch. He moved up to second on a wild pitch and stole third later in the at-bat to Szestowicki. Boccio would score the first run of the frame on a high Baltimore Chop single to short by Szestowicki. Darius Troche (Shillington, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) doubled down the right field line, chasing home Szestowicki, and Zack Miles (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) singled up the middle scoring Troche.
Casey Vaughan (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with a three-run home run that put the Golden Rams in front for good, 4-3, in the fourth. Miles knocked in three runs in the second game as well. Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) and Boccio also homered.
Dylan Howanitz (Archbald, Pa./Valley View) picked up the win in relief in game two to improve to 3-0.
Up Next:
West Chester and Shepherd will be back at it again on Saturday afternoon from Serpico Stadium in West Chester, Pa., to conclude their four-game weekend conference series. First pitch is at 1 p.m.
