FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Pepper Fans 10 in Nightcap Win to Split with West Chester
 
MANSFIELD – Chase Pepper struck out 10 batters while Tanner Klein and Zephan Kash drilled home runs to lead Mansfield past West Chester 9-5 in game two of a PSAC East doubleheader at Shaute Field on Friday. The Mountaineers fell in game one 20-9.
 
In the nightcap, West Chester (19-10, 11-7 PSAC East) got on the board in the top of the second inning. The lead would stand until the bottom of the third when Klein hit a three-runner home run over the left field fence to give Mansfield (18-18, 6-12 PSAC East) a 3-1 lead. The round-tripper was Klein's fourth of the season.
 
However, the Golden Rams would answer with a home run of their own in the fourth on Drew Diehl's two-run shot to even the score.
 
Ryan Paige gave Mansfield the lead in the bottom of the fourth by scoring on a throwing error before Kash hit a no-doubter over the right field fence to drive in three more runs. Wes Custer scored a run on an error by the shortstop before Peter Pena drove in another to cap a six-run inning to put the Mounties ahead 9-3.
 
WCU's Justin Roman hit a lead-off solo home run in the fifth to bring West Chester within five runs.
 
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Rams plated two runs in the seventh and had the tying run at the plate, but reliever Billy Gregory got out of the jam to earn the save.
 
Pepper earned his fourth win of the season after scattering seven hits and allowing just two earned runs over 6.0 innings. The sophomore struck out a career-high 10 batters for the second time this season. He currently ranks third in the PSAC in strikeouts with 65.
 
Klein and Kash each scored twice and drove in a combined seven runs.
 
In the opener, West Chester hung five runs in the first inning, but Klein's two-run homer brought the Mounties back within three runs.
 
The Rams added one run in the third before pounding out eight runs on seven hits in the fourth to jump out to a 14-2 advantage. West Chester added two more in the fifth, but the Mountaineers equaled with two of their own with runs by Owen Lukens and Michael Jankowski to trail 16-4.
 
West Chester added four more runs in the seventh to pull to 20 in the game.
 
Facing a 16-run deficit, Mansfield rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh with Jankowski doubling in a run before later scoring on an error. Taylor Hillson scored on a wild pitch and Jerry Chavarria's double down the line plated two more but it wouldn't be enough.
 
Eric Close picked up his third win allowing four hits for four earned runs while fanning seven. Alec Covel took the loss.
 
The Mountaineers have won five of their last six games including three of four PSAC East contests. Despite being tied for seventh in the PSAC East with a 6-12 divisional record, Mansfield is just two games out of the fourth and final playoff spot.
 
The Mountaineers travel to West Chester Saturday to complete the series.