Box Score ERIE, Pa. –
Drew Diehl (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) went 3-for-5 with a RBI, and
Nick Stallings (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) threw eight stellar innings, to lead West Chester to a 5-0 upset over ninth-ranked Millersville in the NCAA Atlantic Region opener at Jerry Uht Park Thursday afternoon.
West Chester (27-13) scored four runs in the fifth and one more in the seventh to end a 13-game winning streak by Millersville (42-10). The Golden Rams advance into the winner's bracket and will play Winston-Salem State. That game will be played Friday night at 5 p.m.
Stallings (7-2) was fantastic for eight innings, earning his second win of the season over the nationally ranked Marauders. He beat Millersville, 5-4, at home on St. Patrick's Day. The left-hander scattered four hits, walked three and struck out eight to keep Millersville off the scoreboard. He allowed just one runner as far as second base until the eighth inning when he allowed back-to-back walks with two outs. He struck out the next batter looking to end the threat.
"(Stallings) was dominant today," WCU head coach Jad Prachniak said. "He was as sharp as I have seen him this year. He had good command of his pitches, and he worked both sides of the plate really well."
Anthony Salomone (Dillsburg, Pa./North York) led off the fifth inning for West Chester with a walk, and
Bill Ford (Parkside, Pa./Malvern Prep) followed with a double down the left-field line. One out later, Diehl hit an infield single that plated Salomone, and
Dylan Tice (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) followed with a single through the right side that chased home Ford. Diehl advanced to third, and Tice took second on a throwing error by Millersville's right fielder.
Matt Petrizzi (Levittown, Pa./Conwell-Egan) grounded out for the second out of the inning, but Diehl was able to score to make it a 3-0 ballgame. Tice later scored on a wild pitch.
In the seventh,
Robert Knox (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) hit an RBI single off Marauders' reliever, Logan Grant, that scored Tice with an insurance run.
O'Neill threw the ninth inning in relief of Stallings and allowed a pair of hits. However, the right-hander induced a double-play ball with one out and runners on the corners to close out the game and preserve the shutout.
"Our defense all the way around played really well today," Prachniak added. "Our middle infield turned some double plays, but I think Stallings set those up with some good pitches."
Brandon Miller (11-2) suffered the loss on the mound for Millersville. He started and lasted six innings, surrendering four runs, three of them earned, on seven hits. He walked two and struck out seven. Miller fanned 10 in a win over West Chester earlier this season. However, the Golden Rams made the necessary adjustments the second time through the order to finally break through against the Marauders' right-hander in the fifth.
"(Miller) located well," Prachniak said. "I think just a second look and some good swings the second time through helped us (in the fifth inning). We also ran the bases well that inning. That helped us score some runs."
Grant finished up for Millersville, allowing one run on three hits while walking one and striking out one.
NOTES: West Chester improves to 32-21 all-time in the NCAA Tournament … This is the Golden Rams' 12th appearance in the NCAAs … West Chester improves to 2-1 vs. Top 10-ranked opponents this spring and 6-3 against ranked opponents overall … West Chester has won its last nine NCAA Tournament contests, dating back to 2012 when the Rams won the national championship … the win ends a personal four-game losing streak in postseason play for West Chester … all four of those defeats were in the PSAC Tournament … Thursday's NCAA Tournament contest was the first for 26 of the 28 members on West Chester's baseball roster … Only Tyler Coleman and Alec Schwartz were on the 2012 squad that last reached the NCAAs – and they did not appear in a tournament game that year.
