WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Shepherd University (24-15, 11-7 PSAC East) dropped a pair of games to West Chester (27-8, 12-6 PSAC East) in PSAC East baseball doubleheader action at West Chester on Friday. West Chester gained a 4-2 decision in game one and added a 7-1 win in the nightcap.
Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one when redshirt junior outfielder Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood) doubled and later scored on a single from senior first baseman Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II).
West Chester tied the game 1-1 in the second when Austin Stalker singled and later scored on a single from Tanner Donati.
The Golden Rams took a 3-1 lead in the third on a two-run single from Patrick Gozdan.
West Chester took a 4-1 lead in the sixth when Donati walked, reached second on a wild pitch, and later scored on a single from Carter Rust.
The Rams scored one in the seventh on a solo blast from redshirt junior designated-hitter Wyatt Lamb (Asbury, W.Va./Mt. Calvary Christian School (Pa.).
Stalker had two hits and a pair of runs scored to pace West Chester.
Freshman infielder Andrew O'Brien (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) had a pair of hits to pace the Rams.
Julian Costa (6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 8 K, 0 BB) (7-2) earned the win. Landen Rozich (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K, 0 BB) (1 S) earned the save. Freshman pitcher Gavin Miller (Exeter Township, Pa./Exeter Township Senior) (5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (3-5) took the loss.
Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap on a redshirt sophomore designated-hitter Ryan Fluharty (Burton, W.Va./Morgantown/USC Upstate) solo blast.
West Chester scored seven runs in the sixth to cap the scoring. The rally was highlighted by a two-run double from Hunter Smith and a two-run single from Christian Michak.
Fluharty went 2-for-3 with one run to pace the Rams.
Smith went 2-for-3 with one run scored and drove in a pair to pace West Chester.
Luke Raho (7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K, 1 BB) (2-1) earned the win. Senior pitcher Devin Mattei (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) (4-2) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host West Chester for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. at Fairfax Field.