FLEMINGTON, N.J. – On the one-year anniversary of the day the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) cancelled spring sports, the Mansfield University baseball team won their conference opener, 4-3 in walk-off fashion to earn a split with West Chester University on Friday afternoon, March 12. The Mounties fell in the nightcap, 11-4.

Mirrored to the first victory of the season, the Mounties (2-4 overall) trailed West Chester (1-1 overall), 3-2, heading into their final three outs. Senior Nate Cotton started the rally with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sac fly from freshman Zach Shertzer to knot the game at three.

Sophomore Josh Farina became the winning run after a hit by pitch and advanced to second on a single by junior Brittain Shander. Junior Assaf Lowengart wasted no time and ended the contest with a walk off single to score Farina.

Shander finished 2-for-4 and scored a run, while Lowengart, Melko, Shertzer and Osborne all finished with RBI.

Nick D'Amore hit two home runs to lead the Golden Rams.

Senior Hunter DePrimo (1-1) threw a masterful, complete-game victory with 13 strikeouts. DePrimo scattered three solo home runs to keep the Mounties in the game. For West Chester, Braeden Fausnaught allowed two runs and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings, while Nick Picariello allowed two runs to earn the loss.

In game two, the Golden Rams struck for two early runs but Farina led off the bottom of the second with his first career home run to cut the Mountie deficit to 2-1.
The Golden Rams added a run in the second, two in the fourth and one in the fifth to extend their lead to 7-1.

However, the Mountaineers received the first career home run from junior Jake Haas to deep left field and RBI from Shertzer and freshman Dylan Mercedes to jump right back in the game, 7-4.

Leading 7-4 in the top of the seventh, WCU tacked on four insurance runs and shut the door in the bottom half to earn the 11-4 victory.

Jack Slade allowed four runs and struck out seven in the complete-game victory. Senior Colby Shimmell (0-2) was handed the loss for the Mounties and freshman Bobby Curry struck out four in just 1 1/3 innings.

Farina and Haas homered, while Mercedes and Shertzer notched RBI to lead the Mountie offense.

Brian Verratti homered three times to lead WCU.

The Mounties wrap up their series with the Golden Rams tomorrow, March 13 at noon and 2 p.m. in Flemington, N.J. at the Diamond Nation Complex. The games will be streamed pay per view at hicastsports.com.