WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Shepherd University (21-15, 6-10 PSAC East) dropped a 19-8 decision to West Chester (21-11, 8-5 PSAC East) in PSAC East baseball action at West Chester on Friday.
Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when graduate student third baseman Connor Dewees (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) drove in a run when he walked with the bases loaded.
West Chester tied the game on an unearned run in the second.
The Golden Rams added four runs in the fourth with a two-run double by Zach Miles keying the rally.
West Chester added three runs in the fifth to take an 8-1 lead. Stouffer hit a solo homer to key the scoring.
Shepherd got a solo blast from redshirt-sophomore outfielder Sam Daggers (Galloway, N.J./Absegami/Rowan Gloucester CC), RBI-singles from graduate student catcher Andrew Edwards (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) and sophomore outfielder Mike Guzzardo (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep/RCSJ Cumberland), along with a two-run triple by senior infielder Cole Daugherty (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) to key a six-run rally for the Rams in the sixth. Daggers also drove in another run with a bases-loaded walk.
Gifford hit a three-run homer in the sixth to give West Chester an 11-7 lead.
Shepherd got a run in the seventh as junior outfielder Idris Carter (Uniondale, N.Y./Roosevelt/Stony Brook) singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by graduate student catcher Andrew Edwards (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) to cut the lead to 11-8.
West Chester added three runs in the seventh and five in the eighth to seal the win.
Daggers went 2-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs for the Rams.
Miles, Corey Stouffer, and Julian Costa each had three hits for West Chester.
David Ferguson (5.2 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (5-2) earned the win for the Golden Rams. Redshirt-sophomore pitcher Trevor Sharp (Bunker Hill, W.Va./Musselman) (4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (3-3) took the loss.
The two teams return to action on Sunday for a noon doubleheader at Fairfax Field. The games were pushed back a day due to weather concerns.
