One day after overpowering Gannon with an offensive barrage, West Chester proved it could win a different way.
The No. 19/27 Golden Rams completed a four-game sweep of the Golden Knights on Sunday, capturing a pair of tightly contested games 3–2 and 4–1 to finish the weekend at Serpico Stadium.
West Chester (13–2) relied on timely hitting and strong pitching in the twin bill after scoring 18 runs in Saturday’s sweep. The opener required late-inning heroics, while the nightcap featured a near wire-to-wire performance.
Game 1: West Chester 3, Gannon 2
West Chester erased a late deficit and walked it off in the opener.
Trailing 2–0 entering the sixth inning, the Golden Rams mounted a comeback that culminated with Hunter Smith’s walk-off single in the seventh.
Gannon broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning, scoring twice to take the early lead. West Chester responded in the sixth when Austin Stalker doubled to left-center field, driving in a run to cut the deficit in half. Later in the inning, Harry Middlebrooks worked a bases-loaded walk, tying the game at 2–2.
The decisive moment came an inning later.
Back-to-back singles by Christian Michak and Caleb Strawhecker put runners in scoring position with one out. After a strikeout, Gannon intentionally walked Stalker to load the bases, setting the stage for Smith.
The junior delivered, lining a 1–1 pitch through the left side, bringing home Michak with the winning run.
West Chester starter Kyle Lazer kept the Golden Rams within striking distance, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven over 4⅔ innings. Kyle Rogers earned the victory in relief, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.
Game 2: West Chester 4, Gannon 1
Smith stayed in the spotlight in the nightcap.
The junior gave West Chester an early 1–0 lead in the first inning, lining an RBI single through the right side.
Gannon briefly pulled even in the fifth on a solo home run from Cainen Ather, but the Golden Rams answered immediately.
With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, Caleb Strawhecker doubled home Landen Rozich to restore the lead. Moments later, Drew Simpson launched a two-run home run to left field, extending the advantage to 4–1.
That cushion proved more than enough.
Starter Kyle Kearns earned the win after allowing one run on two hits across five innings while striking out four. Relievers Rozich and Ben Jones combined for two scoreless frames, with Jones recording his second save of the season.
The sweep marked West Chester’s first four-game series sweep of the season, further solidifying the Golden Rams’ position among the top teams in Division II.
West Chester returns to action Wednesday afternoon at Wilmington before opening PSAC East play against Mansfield next Friday.
Smith stayed in the spotlight in the nightcap.
The junior gave West Chester an early 1–0 lead in the first inning, lining an RBI single through the right side.
Gannon briefly pulled even in the fifth on a solo home run from Cainen Ather, but the Golden Rams answered immediately.
With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, Caleb Strawhecker doubled home Landen Rozich to restore the lead. Moments later, Drew Simpson launched a two-run home run to left field, extending the advantage to 4–1.
That cushion proved more than enough.
Starter Kyle Kearns earned the win after allowing one run on two hits across five innings while striking out four. Relievers Rozich and Ben Jones combined for two scoreless frames, with Jones recording his second save of the season.
The sweep marked West Chester’s first four-game series sweep of the season, further solidifying the Golden Rams’ position among the top teams in Division II.
West Chester returns to action Wednesday afternoon at Wilmington before opening PSAC East play against Mansfield next Friday.
Ryan McLaughlin delivered a strong start, allowing one earned run on six hits over six innings while striking out eight. Griffin Richardson reached base in all five plate appearances and scored three runs, while Andres Rivera added two extra-base hits as Holy Family’s offense rolled.
In Other Philly Division II Action
Felician 7, Jefferson 0
Chestnut Hill 8, Dominican 4
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