WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Philadelphia University baseball team pounded out a season-high 13 hits in game two of its doubleheader against defending national champion West Chester to earn an 8-8 tie after the game was called after nine innings due to darkness Saturday in Serpico Stadium. The Golden Rams took game one 14-2.

In the nightcap, West Chester (1-3-1) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the home half of the second inning. Rob Spekhardt and Mike Raimo each had a RBI hit while Rob Lessig hit a sacrifice fly.

Philadelphia (1-4-1) came back strong with a six-run fourth inning to take a 6-4 advantage. After getting the first three batters on base to start the inning, junior catcher TJ Burgmann (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College HS) slugged a double to left-center field to drive in the first two runs. With one out in the frame, first baseman Jordan Force (East Greenville, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and shortstop Hunter Greenwood (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) recorded back-to-back singles to tie the game at four. Second baseman Chris Pelaez (Miami, Fla./Miami-Sunset) drove brought Force and Greenwood home with a two-run single to give the Rams the lead.

After getting two runs back in the bottom of the four to tie the game at six, West Chester added single runs in the fifth and sixth inning to regain a two-run lead at 8-6.

The Rams loaded the bases with a single from third baseman Robert Pelaez (Miami, Fla./Miami-Sunset) and back-to-back walks to start the seventh inning. Designed hitter Desmond Drummond (Philadelphia, Pa./GAMP) drew the team's third straight walk to plate Pelaez and pull the Rams within one. Philadelphia tied the score at eight when sophomore right fielder Ryan Shellock (Blackwood, N.J./Triton) scored from third on a wild pitch.

Sophomore left fielder Ken McCormick (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) recorded three of Philadelphia's 13 hits. Robbie Pelaez, junior center fielder Rick Reigner (Havertown, Pa./Monsignor Bonner), Greenwood, and Burgmann all had two hits.

Philadelphia jumped out to an early lead in game one with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Junior left fielder Shane Yoshiyama (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) scored on an error and Robbie Pelaez plated Chris Pelaez with a sacrifice fly.

West Chester cut the deficit in half on a sacrifice fly by Raimo in the third inning and then broke the game open with a seven-run fourth. The Golden Rams tacked on six more runs in the home half of the fifth inning.

Chris Pelaez, Yoshiyama, and Burgmann each had one hit for Philadelphia.

Jack Provine and Raimo both recorded two hits and three RBIs for West Chester. Golden Ram pitcher Joe Gunkel turned in a complete-game three-hitter and struck out four.

Philadelphia travels to Millersville for a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 9 starting at noon.