SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University (24-17, 11-9 PSAC East) dropped a pair of games to West Chester (29-8, 14-6 PSAC East) in PSAC East baseball doubleheader action at Fairfax Field on Saturday. West Chester had a 25-4 victory in game one and added an 18-3 win in the nightcap.
West Chester took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one behind run-scoring singles from Drew Simpson and Hunter Smith.
The Golden Rams took a 3-0 lead in the second when Christian Michak walked and later scored and later scored on a sacrifice-bunt from Carter Rust.
West Chester plated four runs in the fourth highlighted by a three-run blast from Smith.
Shepherd scored one in the fourth when senior first baseman Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II) walked and later scored when redshirt junior outfielder Ethan Jones (Oakton, Va./Oakton) reached on an error.
The Golden Rams plated eight runs in the fifth to grab a 13-1 lead. CRust hit a grand slam to fuel the rally.
The Rams scored three in the sixth behind a two-run blast from junior third baseman Nathaniel Brookshire (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) and a solo shot from senior pinch-hitter Chase Herndon (Hedgesville, W.Va./Spring Mills).
West Chester scored nine runs in the seventh to cap the scoring.
Smith had three hits with one run and four RBIs for the Golden Rams.
Kyle Lazer (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K, 1 BB) (4-1) earned the win. Senior pitcher Allen Miller (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon) (4.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (4-3) took the loss.
West Chester took a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap. Michak hit a two-run single to key the rally
The Golden Rams added three runs in the second highlighted by a Stalker two-run homer.
West Chester scored eight runs on eight hits to take a 15-0 lead in the fourth.
Shepherd scored two runs in the fourth when freshman infielder Andrew O'Brien (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) had an RBI-double and redshirt junior outfielder Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood) had a run-scoring single.
The Golden Rams scored one in the fifth highlight by a Stalker solo homer.
West Chester scored two runs on two hits to take an 18-2 lead in the seventh.
Shepherd scored a run in the seventh on a solo blast from redshirt sophomore infielder Ryan Fluharty (Burton, W.Va./Morgantown/USC Upstate).
Stalker went 3-for-4 with three runs and batted in five to pace West Chester.
Kyle Kearns (4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 8 K, 3 BB) (2-0) earned the win. Sophomore pitcher Conner Chancey (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman/West Liberty) (1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (2-1) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday when they host Frostburg State at Meritus Park in Hagerstown (Md.) for a single game.
