STROUDSBURG, PA – Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) shut down 10th-ranked East Stroudsburg in the opener, but ESU's Ryan Dewees did the same to the Golden Rams in the nightcap as visiting West Chester split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference doubleheader with the Warriors on a beautiful Friday afternoon at Creek View Park.
 
West Chester (33-7, 19-7 PSAC East) clinched a spot in the upcoming PSAC postseason tournament next month with its win in game one. East Stroudsburg (35-7, 23-3) moved one step closer to wrapping up the Eastern Division regular-season title as well. Though, Millersville is still very much alive in that race with one weekend left in the regular season.
 
Costa and ESU ace Brent Francisco (9-1) hooked up in a vintage pitcher's duel in game one. The Golden Rams struck early for two runs in the first, but that was all they would get until chasing Francisco in the seventh. On the other side, Costa (8-2) was setting them up and sending them down until he ran into some trouble in the sixth.
 
West Chester scored twice in the top of the seventh to open up a 4-1 lead, after East Stroudsburg finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a single tally that cut the Rams' lead in half, 2-1. Costa eventually got Tim Haverstick to fly out, stranding the potential tying run at third in the sixth.
 
Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) and John DeMucci (Swarthmore, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) each hit RBI singles up the middle in the seventh that enabled West Chester to expand its lead to three. Kaleck's base knock chased Francisco, who was relieved by Johansel Brito. He let one inherited runner score, before getting ESU out of the inning.
 
After Costa allowed the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh to reach, WCU head coach Mike LaRosa came out and pulled him for Dylan Howanitz (Archbald, Pa./Valley View). He got Jeremy Piatkiewicz to ground into a fielder's choice, leaving runners on the corners with one out. LaRosa emerged from the dugout once again in favor of left-hander Gannon Kadlecik (McKees Rock, Pa./Montour) with two lefties due up in the Warriors' order. Mike Kelly hit a sacrifice fly to score the second run of the game for the hosts, but Shanley Wall grounded out to second to end game one.
 
The Golden Rams plated the first two runs of the game in the first when Evan Profy (Croydon, Pa./Harry S. Truman) bunted for a base hit to lead off the game. DeMucci singled one out later, and the two moved up on a wild pitch. Anthony Boccio (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Profy. Avery Spencer (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove) was hit by a pitch, and then Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingway Regional) singled home DeMucci.
 
Costa was masterful once more in his second career start against East Stroudsburg during his college career. Last year, the lefty tossed a three-hit shutout against the Warriors in a nine-inning complete game victory. This time around, he allowed two runs on six hits, walked one and struck out six in six innings of work.
 
Francisco, who entered Friday's tilt undefeated on the year with a 1.45 earned run average, suffered his first loss of the season. He surrendered four runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. He did settle down after the first and matched Costa pitch-for-pitch until exiting in the seventh. However, in four career starts against the Golden Rams, Francisco is 1-2 with a no decision and a 5.81 ERA. Though, he has struck out 21 batters and only walked four in 21.2 innings.
 
Game two saw Ryan Dewees go the distance for East Stroudsburg, tossing a three-hit shutout in the process, to remain unbeaten on the year at 6-0. He walked one and struck out four in the win. West Chester starter, Nick Noga (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove), surrendered three runs in the first. But, much like Francisco for ESU in game one, he settled down and didn't allow a run the rest of his time in the game. Noga (5-1) lasted four innings and gave up three runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out four in dropping his first decision of the year.
 
West Chester's best opportunity to score in game two came in the fifth when the Golden Rams put runners on first and second with nobody out trailing 3-0. Dewees worked out of that predicament and the Rams never threatened again.
 
These two teams will close out their four-game conference weekend series Saturday afternoon at Serpico Stadium in West Chester. It will be Senior Day for the Golden Rams, who will honor their 10 seniors in a ceremony after the doubleheader concludes. First pitch for game one Saturday is at 1 p.m.