SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Shepherd University (29-23) dropped a 13-5 decision to #15/16 West Chester (38-9) in second-day action of the PSAC Baseball Tournament at Slippery Rock on Thursday. The loss eliminates the Rams.
Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the first-inning on run-scoring singles from senior first baseman Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II) and freshman outfielder Alex Rose (Oakton, Va./Oakton).
West Chester scored one in the first when Caleb Strawhecker walked and later scored when Drew Simpson was picked off.
The Golden Rams took a 9-2 lead with eight runs in the third. Two-run singles from Austin Stalker and Tanner Donati keyed the scoring.
West Chester added three runs in the fourth highlighted by a two-run double from Donati.
The Rams added a run in the fifth when redshirt junior outfielder Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood) singled and later scored on a single off the bat of Rubendall.
Shepherd plated two runs in the eighth to cut the score to 12-5. Redshirt junior catcher Wyatt Lamb (Asbury, W.Va./Mt. Calvary Christian School (Pa.) doubled and later scored on a wild pitch and Rose singled and later scored on a single off the bat of redshirt junior shortstop Ethan Burgreen (Winchester, Va./Millbrook).
The Golden Rams added a run in the eighth when Christian Michak singled and later scored on an error.
Christian Michak scored three runs and drove in a pair to lead West Chester.
Burgreen went 3-for-4 to lead a 14-hit attack for the Rams.
Julian Costa (5.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 K, 0 BB) (10-2) earned the win. Sophomore pitcher Henry Ortiz (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown/Towson) (2.0 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 0 K, 3 BB) (3-2) took the loss.
