West Chester took care of business Friday, sweeping a doubleheader from Pace to cap off a three-game season series sweep. The Golden Rams cruised to a 7-1 win in Game 1 before unloading in an 18-7 rout in the nightcap.
Julian Costa was, once again, in complete command. The reigning Division II Pitcher of the Week went the distance, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven. By the time Pace finally got a run on the board in the third, Costa barely flinched—retiring the next two batters and shutting the door the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, the West Chester bats did their part. Caleb Strawhecker launched a two-run homer in the fourth, Austin Stalker followed with a two-run blast in the fifth, and the Golden Rams never looked back. Costa finished it off in the seventh, securing his third win of the season with a strikeout, a flyout, and a groundout—business as usual.
West Chester didn’t waste time making a statement in the nightcap. Stalker launched a solo homer in the second, followed by a trio of RBI doubles to build a quick 4-0 lead. Strawhecker tacked on a two-run single in the third, and by the fourth, the Golden Rams were in full-on rout mode.
A seven-run fifth inning turned a comfortable lead into a laugher. An RBI groundout. A single. A triple. A Pace error. Another double. Another single. By the time the dust settled, it was 17-3, and West Chester was on cruise control.
On the mound, Patrick Taney picked up the win in relief, escaping a jam in the third before tossing a scoreless fourth. The bullpen held on from there, and Danny Carr slammed the door with a clean seventh inning to seal the sweep.
West Chester heads to Mercy for another doubleheader on Saturday. If Friday was any indication, the bats are packed and ready.
In Other Philly D-II Action
Chestnut Hill dropped its second straight at the Wilson Tobs College Classic, falling 9-4 to Glenville State on Friday afternoon at Fleming Stadium. The Griffins managed just three hits, with Justin Geiger collecting two and Phoenix Bowman adding the only extra-base hit, a double. Rich Bonino took the loss, surrendering nine runs (seven earned) over six innings while striking out six. The setback drops Chestnut Hill to 4-4 on the season.
