Game One
Game Two
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Ashley Saussaman tossed a three-hit, shutout in the opener, and Shannon Padula picked up her 13th win of the season in game two as West Chester swept a softball doubleheader from PSAC West rival Indiana, Pa., on Monday afternoon to extend its winning streak to 12 straight games with a 3-0 win in game one and a 5-4 win in game two.
Saussaman (2-0) threw her first complete game of the season and earned her first shutout as well, walking one and striking out six. She faced just four batters over the minimum and induced 10 ground ball outs, keeping the Crimson Hawks’ batters off balance all afternoon.
Padula (13-3) went the distance in game two inside the circle, scattering five hits, walking four and striking out three. Only one of the four runs that scored were earned.
IUP (4-12) rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning of game two to draw within one, but Padula shut the door with the tying run standing on second and the winning run on first. Shannon Battison grounded to short where the Rams’ Kristin McCoy tossed the ball to Kelsey Rapp, forcing out Sam Goettman to end the game.
The Hawks scored one run in the fifth and sixth innings each as they inched their way back into game two. West Chester had opened up a 5-1 lead after five innings, but held on for the school’s 12th straight win.
Megan Harbaugh finished game two 3-for-3 with three RBI, including a booming home run to left field in the third inning that chased IUP starter Jenny Shaffer (2-5). It was Harbaugh’s team-leading third smash of the season.
Harbaugh ripped a two-run single through the left side of the infield with one out in the bottom of the first inning that plated Tara Colantuono and Stefani Kerbacher. Kerbacher picked up an RBI single in the second inning to put West Chester on top, 3-0.
Harbaugh’s blast in the third made it 4-0, and IUP got one back in the top of the fifth. Alisha DiMarzio knocked in pinch-runner Ashley Landi in the bottom half of the fifth to restore WCU’s four-run lead. Landi ran for Harbaugh, who singled, and advanced to second and then to third on a wild pitch each time while DiMarzio batted.
IUP head coach Ali Ferrari then went back to Shaffer in place of reliever Erin Holloway after the latter had worked a 3-1 count to DiMarzio. The Golden Rams’ catcher laced Shaffer’s first offering past the Hawks’ diving shortstop and into left.
Shaffer suffered the loss, throwing four innings total and surrendering 11 hits, four runs, walking none and striking out three. Only three of her four runs allowed were earned. Holloway pitched a total of two innings and gave up three hits, one earned run and struck out three.
Holloway (1-6) suffered the loss in the opener, allowing four hits, three runs, walking two and striking out seven. Two of her three runs were earned. She ran into trouble in the third inning, but held West Chester quiet the rest of the time.
IUP just could never get anything going against Saussaman. The Crimson Hawks did not advance a runner past second base the entire game.
Jackie DiPaola singled to left field with two outs in the third, scoring Mandy Jankowski and Katie Kmiencinski. Then IUP’s left fielder dropped a fly ball down the left field line hit by Erin MacNamee that allowed DiPaola to race around the bags and score.
That was the only scoring in game one.
West Chester (17-6) puts its 12-game winning streak on the line Wednesday afternoon when the Golden Rams host Goldey-Beacom in a non-conference tilt at the softball field at WCU.
