West Chester University baseball squad earns big win in NCAA Atlantic Regional

Luke Cantwell hit a tworun single in the bottom of the first, and left-handed ace Braeden Fausnaught made that hold up with some help from his center fielder, Zack Wright, as the 16th-ranked West Chester University baseball squad defeated visiting Slippery Rock, 2-1, in the NCAA Atlantic Regional at Serpico Stadium Thursday afternoon.

The NCAA Tournament victory was the first for the Golden Rams at Serpico Stadium since 1985. West Chester (30-11) advances to today’s second round and will play Seton Hill (32-171), a 10-2 winner over Slippery Rock earlier in the day, in a doubleheader that will begin at 11 a.m. The Rock (33-17) saw its season come to a close.

In the top of the first inning, with one out and one on, Slippery Rock’s all-region catcher, Connor Hamilton, gave a 3-1 fastball from Fausnaught a ride to dead center field. However, Wright leaped, reaching over the fence with his glove, and brought the ball back for the second out of the inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Cantwell laced a 1-0 fastball to rightcenter that plated Justin Horn and Mike Ferrara with the Golden Rams’ only two runs of the game. Hamilton got his revenge in the fourth when he hit a towering home run to left-center that disappeared in the pine trees after clearing the scoreboard.

Fausnaught (8-2) allowed six hits in seven innings of work, striking out 12 – including his 100th strikeout of the season – while walking just one with 118 pitches. He is the first Golden Rams’ hurler to strike out 100 batters in a single season. Freshman Kyle Lazer picked up his fourth save by throwing the eighth and ninth.

Girls’ lacrosse

DOWNINGTOWN EAST 13, PENNSBURY 12 » In the second round of the District 1 3A tournament, the No. 8 seed Cougars edged ninthseeded Pennsbury, led by Eileen Hewitt (3 goals, 2 assists, 3 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers), Sofia Fanelli (3 goals, 2 assists), Lexie Conte (4 draw controls), Karyn Michaels (2 goals) and Riley Marks (3 goals, 2 draw controls). Downingtown East will now face No. 1 seed Conestoga in the quarterfinals Saturday. BISHOP SHANAHAN 7, VILLA MARIA ACADEMY 5 » The top seeded Eagles prevailed against the No. 8 seed Hurricanes in the quarterfinals of the District 1 2A tournament, led by Ellie Udo (2 goals, 2 caused turnovers, 3 draw controls), Caitlyn Hubiak (2 goals, 3 caused turnovers), Soph Lymberis (1 goal, 1 caused turnover), Paris Masaracchia (1 goal, 2 draw controls) and Allie Hathaway (8 saves). OWEN J. ROBERTS 6, DOWNINGTOWN WEST 5 » Owen J. Roberts, the No. 2 seed, staved off 18th seed Downingtown West’s attack (led by Maddie Greco’s 4 goals) to win this District 1 3A second-round contest. The OJR defense limited Downingtown West to 10 shots, and sophomore goalie Korrigan Sweeney recorded five saves.

Boys’ lacrosse

DOWNINGTOWN EAST 11,

AVON GROVE 5 » The No. 2 seed Cougars prevailed against 15th seed Avon Grove in the second round of the District 1 3A tournament. For the Red Devils, Preston Boyd scored 2 goals, while Kyle Anthony, Brayden Goldstein and Keegan Quatman each scored single goals.