PITTSBURGH, Pa. – May 10, 2021 – The Chatham University Baseball team concluded its best season yet with a home sweep of Westminster on Monday, 5-4 in game one and 2-1 in game two. This marks the first sweep of a PAC opponent this season, second all-time.
 
The Cougars leapt out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to swings by juniors Nico Cuello and Caleb Lehman. The former of the duo tripled to right center while the latter brought him in. A double play allowed Lehman to come home unscathed, making the score 3-0 after one. After a scoreless second and third, senior Andrew Clark took advantage of a throwing error by the Westminster shortstop and made the score 4-0 after four.
 
However, the Titans did not go away easily. They chipped into the Chatham lead in the fifth with one run and usurped the deficit in the sixth with a three spot thanks to a single, triple and double in that order.
 
Momentum seemed to favor the visitors heading into the seventh. Luckily for the Cougars, junior Caleb Lehman seized the lead back in the bottom of the frame to snatch control right back, giving the Cougars a tenuous 5-4 lead. Westminster had the tying run in scoring position in the eighth, but the Titans provided no further damage.
 
Both teams had 11 base hits, but the Cougars did not commit an error in the field whereas the Titans had one gaffe, leading to a run. Cuello, Lehman, junior Mason Akers and senior Jonathan Scarsella all went 2/4 with Scarsella scoring twice and Lehman driving in two. Cuello and Akers both drilled triples.
 
Junior Erik Napolitano went 5.2 innings and struck out one to start the game but was chased out in favor of sophomore Eric Paulin. He went 1.1 innings and struck out one. Senior Ryan Shawley earned his first and only save of the season after allowing just one hit in 2.0 innings of work.
 
Game two was a slower affair, with Westminster getting multiple base hits while Chatham was able to capitalize on the two knocks it got. Lehman tripled to score senior Justin Silvious, while sophomore Brandon Griener singled in senior Logan Kasper, which turned out to be the game-winning play.
 
Chatham reached deep into the pitching rotation for game two. In the final contest of the year, six pitchers toed the rubber. Getting the win in relief was junior Mason Akers despite giving up an unearned run. Starting the game was junior Trevor Salvior, going 2.0 innings and fanning a pair. Seeing action were junior Kelli Jenkins, first-year Mitchell Thornton, sophomore Cole Couchman and first-year Mason Schwartz.
 
Chatham finishes the season 12-23 overall and 10-17 in PAC play, both program records in overall and conference wins. Lehman set single season program records in batting average (.393), hits (46), doubles (10) and RBIs (19). Pitching wise, senior Austin Andonisio more than doubled the program record for most wins in a season (5).