SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway Regional) singled to right with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 15th inning delivering eighth-ranked West Chester an 8-7 victory in the team's opening game of the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) postseason tournament Wednesday evening.
 
West Chester (40-7) advances to the winner's bracket with the win in the single-elimination round while Mercyhurst (21-20) sees its final season at Division II and in the PSAC come to a close. The Golden Rams improved to 10-3 in one-run games  with the triumph.
 
"This team is tough," West Chester head coach Mike LaRosa said afterwards. "We've shown it with our ability to come from behind over and over again, and to win the close games. Nothing rattles these guys. They believe in each other and stick to the process, and playing the game the right way, regardless of the score. It's been fun to watch them compete."
 
Szestowicki put an end to what tied the longest game in West Chester baseball history by innings when he drove home Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) who had walked to start the 15th frame. It marked the fourth time in school history that a baseball game went into the 15th inning. The 4 hour, 48 minute marathon is believed to be up there in longest in duration without a weather, or other stoppage involved.
 
The 15-inning affair is believed to be the longest game in PSAC Tournament history since Edinboro beat Mansfield, 2-1, in 16 innings in 1972. Ironically, those two schools met in the conference championship game that year and Edinboro beat Mansfield again, 8-6, that time in 11 innings to claim the title.
 
Following Kaleck's walk, John DeMucci (Swarthmore, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) laid down a beautiful bunt that he beat out to first putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Anthony Boccio (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) sacrificed the two over, and Avery Spencer (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove) was intentionally walked to load the bases.
 
Reliever David Ferguson (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) pitched four scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out a season-high seven to pick up his fourth win of the season on the mound. The Golden Rams' bullpen threw 12 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, only two of which were earned, on 10 hits. It struck out 15 batters. West Chester pitchers K'd 17 in all during the game.
 
"Ferguson might have had the best outing of his career," LaRosa added. "All of his pitches were working, and he was competing at another level. To keep shutting down (Mercyhurst's) offense kept us in the game long enough to win it."
 
Mercyhurst reliever Ben Berdine (1-5) suffered the loss. He also lost the regular-season match against these two in Cary, N.C. in early March. Corbin Foy drew the start. He also started that game back in March for the Lakers. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Only two of the four runs were earned. He walked three and struck out four. Mercyhurst reliever Aidan Kelly was marvelous in keeping West Chester's bats quiet during the scoreless run of innings between the ninth and 15th. He tossed six frames and allowed just one unearned run on six hits. He walked two and struck out four.
 
DeMucci finished 3-for-7 with a pair of RBI in the game while Evan Profy (Croydon, Pa./Harry S. Truman) went 3-for-6 with three runs scored. Boccio went 2-for-7 with three RBI picking up his 198th and 199th career hits in the process.
 
West Chester starter Joe Sperone (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) threw 61 pitches lasting 2 2/3 innings. He surrendered two earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out two. Six Golden Rams pitchers struck out 17 batters.
 
West Chester will take on Shippensburg on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. after East Stroudsburg vs. Indiana (Pa.) concludes.
 
NOTES: The Golden Rams are making their 20th appearance in the conference postseason tournament … West Chester improves to 33-26 in the PSAC Tournament … West Chester and Mercyhurst met in the first round of the PSAC Tournament for the third consecutive year … the Lakers won in 2022 while the Golden Rams won in 2023 and again Wednesday night … West Chester finishes its all-time series against Mercyhurst 11-10 overall against the Lakers … West Chester was 5-4 against Mercyhurst in the PSAC Tournament … Szestowicki's eight at-bats in the game tied a school record last done in 1992 by three players in the same game.
 

BASE: Walk this way! @BaseballWcu takes an 8-7 victory over Mercyhurst in 15 innings to advance in the @PSACsports Tournament! pic.twitter.com/iX8OL6xqrU

— West Chester Golden Rams (@WCUAthletics) May 9, 2024