If there was any question about how West Chester would respond after last weekend, it didn’t last long Friday afternoon.
The Golden Rams answered with authority.
Behind strong starting pitching and one decisive offensive burst, West Chester swept Shepherd, 4-2 and 7-1, in a critical PSAC East doubleheader — a result that pushed the Golden Rams past Shepherd and into first place in the division.
Game 1 was defined by steadiness.
West Chester fell behind early but quickly evened the score before taking the lead in the third inning on a two-run single. From there, Julian Costa settled into a rhythm, working through six innings while limiting Shepherd’s opportunities to string together offense.
An RBI single in the sixth provided insurance, but the final inning brought tension. Shepherd opened the seventh with three straight threats, cutting the lead and bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Reliever Landen Rozich entered and shut the door, escaping the jam to secure the 4-2 victory.
The second game told a different story — at least early.
Shepherd carried a no-hit bid into the fifth and held a 1-0 lead, keeping West Chester’s offense quiet through the first half of the game. But the Golden Rams flipped everything in the sixth.
With the bases loaded, a walk forced in the tying run before Hunter Smith delivered the swing that changed the game — a two-run double to center that gave West Chester its first lead. From there, the inning unraveled for Shepherd. A defensive miscue allowed another run to score, and West Chester continued to apply pressure, piling on in a seven-run inning that broke the game open.
That surge was more than enough for Luke Raho, who turned in a complete-game effort, allowing just one run while working through late traffic to finish off the sweep.
It was the kind of response contenders rely on — not just wins, but timely execution in moments that shape a season.
And with it, West Chester now sits in the top of the PSAC East.
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