LANCASTER, Pa. – After seven years and one and a half days of waiting for the weather to cooperate, the Lock Haven University baseball team (21-32) returned to the postseason and lost to West Chester (40-10) 7-3 in the opening round of the 2009 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs this afternoon at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa.

Five different Bald Eagles had hits in the loss.

Leading the way for The Haven at the plate was third baseman Mark Strouse (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley), who went 2-for-4 and had one RBI.

Evan Petro (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) and Matt Palko (Freeland, Pa./Hazelton Area) also had one RBI each.

The Bald Eagles erased the zero that was listed in the run column on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning when the team put together a two-run rally to cut into the Golden Ram’s seven-run lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, Palko’s home run over the centerfield wall would cut the lead to four for WCU, but it was not enough to the spark the offense for the Bald Eagles.

Lock Haven was shut down in the final three innings and West Chester was able to pick up the four-run victory.

Andrew Simonik (Jermyn, Pa./Lakeland High School) got the start on the mound and lasted three innings. He gave up five runs off seven hits. Simonik also walked two West Chester batters in the loss.

Tyler Rumsey (Mansfield, Pa./Mansfield) came in for the final five innings of relief work for Lock Haven and gave up two runs off two hits and walked two.

LHU plays Shippensburg in the consolation bracket of the double elimination tournament.

Time and date have not been set at this time.

Please check back to Havensports.com periodically for more updates.