Joe Wendle’s (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) run-scoring single down the right field line in the top of the seventh plated the game-winning run as West Chester topped Mercyhurst, 3-2, in an NCAA Atlantic Region contest at Owls Field Friday evening.
With the win, West Chester (40-10) advances in the winner’s bracket and is the only unbeaten team left after two days at the double-elimination regional. The Golden Rams advance to Saturday to play the winner of the Seton Hill vs. Mercyhurst game at 6 p.m. Mercyhurst (39-16) falls into the loser’s bracket with the loss and takes on Seton Hill tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.
The eventual winner of the Atlantic Regional will be crowned on Sunday and will earn a trip to the Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C., May 26 to June 2.
Sophomore right-hander Joe Gunkel (8-1) struck out a season-high nine batters to pick up the win on the mound. He went the distance allowing two runs, one of them earned, on eight hits. He did not walk a batter.
West Chester took advantage of a Mercyhurst error in the seventh to score an unearned run, which proved to be the difference. Leadoff hitter Reid Pulford (Medford, N.J.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and advanced to second on a one-out single by Jack Provine (Lincroft, N.J.). That set the stage for Wendle’s game-winning hit.
Chris Pula had an RBI single during a two-run third that put the Golden Rams in front, 2-1. Justin Lamborn grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to plate the other run.
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