WEST CHESTER, Pa.- For the second time in as many games, West Chester used a two-out walk off to extend its winning streak as the seventh-ranked Golden Rams (15-3) defeated Molloy by a 4-3 final on a picture-perfect Tuesday afternoon on South Campus.
Jake Welsch (Glenmoore, Pa./Downingtown West) played the hero for West Chester on Tuesday as he laced a two-out double into the left-center field gap to plate
Casey Vaughan (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), who had singled earlier in the inning.
After three-and-a-half scoreless innings to open the game, West Chester took the lead in the fourth with an RBI groundout from
Ben Bolhouse (Chadds Ford, Pa./Kennett) before doubling its lead with an RBI double off the bat of
Anthony Boccio (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) in the fifth to take a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning.
In the sixth, Molloy started the inning with a double to right and eventually cut the lead in half on a wild pitch, making the score 2-1.
West Chester did not allow the lead to remain at one for long as Vaughan ripped an RBI single through the right side in the home half of the sixth to score Bolhouse and restore a two-run lead.
It appeared as if this two-run lead was all West Chester would need to extend its winning streak as
Ryan DeHaven (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) pitched a gem, going eight strong innings, allowing just the one sixth-inning run on five hits, while striking out six to help the Golden Rams carry a 3-1 lead into the ninth.
Ben Jones (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) entered in relief in the ninth and got two quick outs via strikeouts before allowing a walk and a double to right center, which scored the Lions second run before
Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) (5-0) entered in relief. Looking to slam the door, Costa yielded a two-out single to right center, which scored the tying run and gave the Lions the go-ahead run on first with one out.
The junior lefty tried to end the threat quickly with a pickoff move to first, but his throw got away and gave the Lions a runner on third with two outs in the inning. Molloy turned to a pinch-hitter in hopes of taking a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Costa ended the threat with a strikeout to send the game to the ninth locked at 3-3.
In the home ninth, Molloy got a quick first out before Vaughan lined a single into left center and
Darius Troche (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin) was hit by a pitch to give West Chester runners on first and second with one out.
Shane Adamski (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) got just under the first pitch he saw and lined a fly ball out to left for the second out of the inning.
Welsch did some first-pitch swinging of his own after this, lining a fly ball into left center field, which arced just over the outstretched glove of the Lions left fielder and give the Golden Rams their second walk-off victory in as many games.
Sean Mileti suffered the loss in relief for Molloy, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two in 2.2 innings of work. Matthew Fried got the start for Molloy and also pitched well as he, too, recorded a no-decision, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five.
Up Next
West Chester will now begin preparing for its PSAC East opener on Friday vs rival East Stroudsburg in a doubleheader at Serpico Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.
