WCU Opens NCAAs With 4-0 Win

The following is a press release from the West Chester University Athletic Department.

Senior right-handed pitcher Jordan Lehman tossed a one-hit, complete-game shutout as 13th-ranked West Chester topped Shepherd University, 4-0, in the opening game of the 2012 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional baseball tournament at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park on a perfect day for baseball Thursday afternoon.

West Chester (39-10) took advantage of a throwing error in the bottom of the third to score three runs and jump out in front against Shepherd (33-18). They added an insurance tally in the fifth, but Lehman (5-2) was well on his way to his fifth win of the season by then.

Michael Lott led off the game with a single, but that was all Lehman would allow in the hit column the rest of the afternoon. His final line included four walks and a hit batsman while one other batter reached on an error. The big righty retired 16 of the last 17 batters to close out the game.

"(Lehman) did a good job staying in the strike zone," first-year head coach Jad Prachniak mentioned. "I thought he would come out and attack hitters the way that he did. He certainly pitched well today, and we were able to save our bullpen."

Chris Pula finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI while Jack Provine was also 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Joe Wendle went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

"That was a very gutsy performance from Jordan today," Wendle commented. "He gave up a single to the first batter, then threw a no-hitter from that point on, and that's all you can ask of him."

West Chester advances into the winner's bracket of the regional and will take on the winner of Kutztown vs. Mercyhurst tomorrow night at 6 p.m.