WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Mansfield University baseball team (5-14, 0-8 PSAC East) dropped a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division games on the road at West Chester University (16-6, 6-3 PSAC East), 7-1 and 5-2 on Tuesday afternoon, March 28.
 
In game one, the Mounties struck first in the top of the second inning when Marcus Nales singled down the right field line to plate Jeffrey Coakley, putting the Mounties on top, 1-0.
 
However, the Golden Rams countered with three runs in the ensuing frame to take their first lead, 3-1.
 
West Chester held the Mounties scoreless the rest of the way, while scoring three more runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth to seal the victory.
 
The Golden Rams outhit the Mounties, 10-4, while taking advantage of a game-high four errors committed by MU.
 
Nales led the Mounties' offense with a pair of singles and an RBI. Mountaineer starting pitcher Ryan King (2-2) took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work, adding two strikeouts.
 
David Ferguson picked up his third win in the circle for WCU, tossing a one-run, complete-game shutout with seven Ks.

The Golden Rams picked up where they left off in the nightcap, scoring three runs through the opening three innings, while holding the Mounties off the scoreboard to build a 3-0 lead.

West Chester extended their lead to 5-0 with two runs in the seventh, giving the Mounties two more chances at the plate.

MU broke through for two runs in the top of the eighth inning thanks to an RBI double by Ryan Verbonitz and an RBI single by Josh Farina, but a scoreless ninth inning sealed the victory for WCU.

Verbonitz led the Mountie offense with three hits, including a double. Six different pitchers took the mound for Mansfield, with the best outing coming from reliever Scott Poulson, who tossed three scoreless innings.
 
NEXT UP
The Mounties host Shepherd University tomorrow in conference game playat 2 p.m.at Joseph Shaute Field.