Box Score West Chester, Pa. – (3/27/2013) – Today's baseball contest at West Chester University came down to the bottom of the ninth inning, as Chestnut Hill College scored three runs in their half of the frame to force the defending National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II champions to win in walk-off fashion. Unfortunately, the Golden Rams were able to execute under pressure, using a walk, a catcher's interference, an error, and a wild pitch to defeat the Griffins 10-9.
 
West Chester University (13-8-1) used early offense to gain the advantage on Chestnut Hill College (9-11) as the Golden Rams knocked the Griffins starter, senior pitcher Robert Hopkins (Philadelphia, Pa.), from the contest with five runs in the first two innings, 5-1. An active fifth inning left spread at 7-4 Golden Rams heading to the latter half of the competition. The Griffins looked to trim the Golden Ram three-run advantage with some aggressive base running in the seventh inning, 7-5, and an eighth inning run-scoring double from freshman second baseman Brian Happ (Warrington, Pa.), 7-6, but with two more runs in the bottom of the frame the Golden Rams held a 9-6 lead heading to the final at-bats of regulation.
 
In the top of the ninth inning, the new Golden Ram reliever ran into immediate trouble with a couple of walks and a couple wild pitches putting freshman designated hitter Brendan Looby (Sewell, N.J.) and junior left fielder Raymond Puskar (Green Lane, Pa.) on the corners. The following single from senior shortstop Joseph Crane (Churchville, Pa.) knocked in the first run, 9-7, and after a sacrifice from sophomore third baseman Taylor Steen (New Egypt, N.J.), a single from freshman first baseman Patrick Campion (Norristown, Pa.) evened the contest at 9-9. The Griffins took the field in the bottom of the frame hoping to force extra innings and earn one more time at the plate. Unfortunately, the Golden Rams wore down the Griffin bullpen as they loaded the bases on a walk, a catcher's interference, and a fielding error, before winning the contest with a walk-off wild pitch.
 
Puskar, Crane, Campion, and junior center fielder Desmond Lites (Philadelphia, Pa.) each recorded two hits for the Griffins. As a result, Crane, Campion, and Looby each knocked in two runs. Sophomore pitcher Vincent Manzella (Matawan, N.J.) took the loss (0-1).

The baseball team returns to their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) schedule with a 3:00 p.m. contest at Philadelphia University on Monday, April 1.