The Philadelphia University baseball team scored four runs in the top of the first inning against nationally-ranked West Chester University on Tuesday afternoon, but the host Golden Rams battled back, taking an eventual 10-8 decision.  With the setback, which came in the semifinals of the 2008 Bill Giles Invitational, the Rams fall to 0-4 on the young season while ninth-ranked West Chester improves to a perfect 12-0.

Senior catcher Jason Hartley picked up three hits and drove in three runs to pace the Rams while junior outfielder Devin Conroy (pictured) collected two hits, two runs and two RBI in a losing effort.  Junior Kyle Noonan also registered a pair of hits for the Rams including a third-inning double.

Things got off to a promising start for Head Coach Mark Heineman's team as the Rams got four consecutive RBI singles with one out in the first, taking the 4-0 advantage.  West Chester, however, came back with two runs in the bottom of the first and eventually took the lead, 5-4, in the bottom of the fifth inning.  The Rams took their last lead in the top sixth inning with two runs on a two-out, two-run double off the bat of Hartley that plated Conroy and sophomore first baseman Mike Anderson.  West Chester answered once again, though, tallying three runs in the bottom of the seventh for an 8-6 lead and never looked back in advancing to the finals.