West Chester, Pa. – Charleston faced Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the first game of the Atlantic Regional and fell 19-7 to the Crimson Hawks. After the first game loss the Golden Eagles had to turn around and face the #1 seed and host West Chester. Charleston defeated the Golden Rams and advanced to Saturday with 7-3 victory on Thursday afternoon. 
 
Game 1
 
The Basics:
Location: Serpico Stadium
Score: UC 7, IUP 19
Records: UC 43-9, IUP 34-15
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles entered the first game of the Atlantic Regional as the #4 seed and were set to face the #5 seed in Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The matchup would be the first time the two squads would see each other.
 
The first several innings of the game were a pitching duel, neither side able to muster up much offense until the Crimson Hawks finally broke the scoring in the top of the fourth inning. IUP plated two runs on one hit, two walks and a muffed throw.
 
Charleston responded in the bottom half of the inning, plating a run two hits to cut the deficit, trailing 2-1. Hector Carreon Herrera got things started with a two out double to left center. After moving over to third on a sacrifice bunt from Brayden McCallister, Carreon Herrera scored on a Damian Witty single to right field.
 
In the bottom of the fifth Charleston's Drew Klaserner blasted a no doubter to right field to knot the score at 2-2.
 
In the top of the sixth, IUP kicked things into fifth gear and showcased a six-run inning. The inning featured three hits, two walks and one Charleston error to take the 8-2 lead. Despite a Crimson Hawk error in the bottom of the sixth, Charleston could not plate a run, giving the bat back to IUP for the top of the seventh.
 
The Crimson Hawks continued their scoring run, plating seven runs on just two hits. The Golden Eagles committed four errors in the inning, contributing to the Crimson Hawk 15-2 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
 
IUP plated their sixteenth run of the ball game in the top of the eighth. An error and a wild pitch followed by a single through the left side allowed the Crimson Hawk run to score. Charleston chipped away at the deficit in the bottom of the eighth, scoring five runs on two hits and taking advantage of five free passes from the IUP pitching staff.
 
 
The Crimson Hawks plated their final three runs of the game in the top of the ninth, bringing the score to 19-7. Charleston had their last three outs to try and overcome the deficit, but they eventually fell to IUP taking the first game loss in the Atlantic Regional.
 
Game 2
 
The Basics:
Location: Serpico Stadium
Score: UC 7, WCU 3
Records: UC 44-9, W2est Chester 43-8
 
How it Happened:
West Chester opened the scoring in game two with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first run came in consequence of a balk and then the Golden Rams doubled their lead with a sacrifice fly RBI to take the 2-0 advantage after one inning of play.
 
Charleston got runners aboard in the second and third but could not plate any runs and starting pitcher Austin Dzierwa for the Golden Eagles settled in after a rocky first to keep the game at 2-0 West Chester heading into the fourth.
 
Carter Rust led the inning off for the Golden Eagles with a triple to right center field. Moments later Hector Carreon Herrera laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Rust to score, and a bad throw by the Golden Rams allowed Carreon Herrera to reach safely. Two batters later another Golden Ram throwing error allowed Damian Witty on base, runners on first and second for Evan Ulrich. Ulrich took advantage of the two errors, singling up the middle and allowing Carreon Herrera to score from second. Eric Chartier complimented with a single to follow, this time Damian Witty scoring from third and the Golden Eagles taking their first lead of the afternoon, 3-2 Charleston.
 
After a scoreless bottom half of the inning for West Chester, Charleston started the inning with a leadoff double from Casey Finck. A single up the middle from Carter Rust to follow put runners on the corners for Hector Carreon Herrera. Carreon Herrera grounded into a productive out, collecting an RBI and Charleston going ahead 4-2.
 
In the bottom of the fifth the Golden Rams led the inning off with a leadoff single followed by a throwing error, forcing Charleston to look to their bullpen and call upon Cody Godbold. With a runner on second, Godbold induced a fly out, but a responsive single up the middle cut the deficit for the Golden Rams, 4-3 Charleston still on top. Catcher Evan Ulrich cut DeMucci down trying to steal after the single, clearing the bases with two outs before Godbold forced a weak ground ball to second base to end the inning only allowing a run.
 
In the top of the sixth the Golden Eagles made up for the run allowed, plating two runs of their own. A one out error followed by back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Casey Finck. Finck reached on a fielder's choice, one run scoring on the play. Carter Rust followed with a single through the left side, Klaserner scoring from third and Charleston improving their lead 6-3 over West Chester.
 
Owen MacNeil entered in relief for Charleston in the bottom half of the inning and despite giving up a leadoff single, MacNeil sat the next three Golden Rams down in order.
 
After a scoreless seventh and eighth inning for both teams, Casey Finck led off the top of the ninth with a double down the right field line. After a strikeout, Golden Ram pitching allowed Finck to advance to third on a balk. Tragedy struck again just moments later as Hector Carreon Herrera was put aboard after catcher's interference. With runners on the corners, Brayden McCallister tacked on an insurance run for Charleston with an RBI single up the middle, Charleston leading 7-3.
 
Owen MacNeil came back out in the bottom half of the inning and sat the Golden Rams down in order to collect Charleston's 44^th win of the season. With the win, Charleston records their winningest season in program history as well as surviving to advance to Saturday.

Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will face IUP on Saturday at 11:00AM and will need to defeat them back-to-back games to advance to the Atlantic Super Regional.