Box Score WEST LAWN, PA- The Chowan University baseball team dropped a 12-6 decision to West Chester University in the opening round of the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament on Thursday afternoon.  The Hawks face elimination on Friday and will face the loser of Thursday's Mercyhurst/East Stroudsburg contest. 

The Golden Rams struck first in the contest using Justin Roman's RBI double in the first to take an early 1-0 lead.  Jack Downum's two-run single in the second gave Chowan a 2-1 edge but an infield single and bases loaded walk gave West Chester a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the frame.  A bases loaded walk in the bottom of the third pushed the Golden Rams ahead 4-2. 

Connor Arcobasso's RBI single in the fourth gave the Hawks an additional run but West Chester answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-3 advantage.  The Golden Rams plated four runs in the fifth behind a pair of two-run doubles to take a 9-3 lead.  Chowan responded in their next at-bat, scoring one run off a West Chester error.  Trailing 9-4, the Hawks mustered an additional run in the seventh using Josh Martin's RBI groundout.  West Chester added two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to take a commanding 12-5 lead.  The Hawks mustered one additional run in their final at-bat after a fielder's choice by Wade Wyatt Jr. which allowed Aaron Flanagan to score.  Ultimately, it was not enough to overcome the deficit as Chowan suffered the 12-6 setback. 

Downum recorded two hits and two RBI in the setback while Zach Cooper paced the Hawks with three hits on the afternoon.  Cody Smith was credited with the loss after allowing four runs (four earned) in 2.1 innings of work.  Bailey Lipscomb, Scott Edge, and Will Edwards each entered the contest in-relief of Smith. 

Drew Diehl and Nick Bateman each recorded three hits in the win for West Chester.  Bateman and Roman accounted for four RBI apiece for the Golden Rams.  Nick Stallings picked up the win on the mound.  He allowed four runs (two earned) off of six hits in six innings of work.  Mike O'Neill tossed the final three innings in-relief and allowed two runs (two earned) off of five hits. 

The Hawks move to 26-25 on the season with the loss while the Golden Rams improve to 36-12 with the win.

Click HERE for access to live stats for Friday's elimination game.