West Chester University’s run at a national championship ended the hardest way possible Saturday: one win short.
The Golden Rams fell 8-4 to Tampa in the winner-take-all finale of the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Series in Cary, North Carolina, reports Brett Friedlander for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
With West Chester already in an early hole, coach Mike LaRosa made a bet in the second inning. He sent in ace left-hander Julian Costa, even though he had thrown 104 pitches just two days earlier.
Costa couldn’t hold back Tampa’s offense, and the Spartans built a lead the Golden Rams never could fully erase.
Still, the team never stopped believing. Carter Rust drove in three runs throughout the game. Outfielder Tanner Donati launched a home run to ignite a seventh-inning rally, and Landen Rozich went 4-for-4 at the plate. Tampa’s Luke Fikar, named the series’ Most Outstanding Player, ultimately shut them down.
“We never felt like we were out of it at any point in that game,” said senior first baseman Austin Stalker. “It’s just kind of the mentality we’ve had all year. We all came into the dugout and were like, ‘We’ve done crazier things in the ninth.’ You never know.”
Tampa clinched its third consecutive national championship, leaving West Chester to finish a remarkable 48-12 season, just one victory shy of the program’s third national title. Despite the disappointment, players and coaches emphasized their pride in this season.
“This group of guys is special. That’s what makes the ending so hard,” said Donati.
For more on West Chester’s memorable championship run and how the Golden Rams fared against Tampa, read The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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