Box Score
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – West Chester committed seven errors and California (Pa.) left-hander Sonia Petrosoniak tossed a three-hit shutout as the Vulcans cruised to a 7-0 win over the Golden Rams in the opening game of the Mid-Atlantic Regional of the 2008 NCAA Division II Softball Tournament Wednesday morning at Kutztown’s North Campus Field.
The 9 a.m. start proved to be too early a wake-up call for West Chester (31-21) as Cal scored twice in the first inning and once in the second to jump out early on the Rams thanks to a plethora of miscues in the field. Cal (27-16) then rode the strong pitching of Petrosoniak the rest of the way, taking on four more runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning.
West Chester falls into the losers’ bracket of the double-elimination tournament and will take on Bowie State, a 1-0 loser to Lock Haven in the second game of the day, on Thursday at 9 a.m. at North Campus Field. The loser of that game is eliminated from the tournament while the winner moves on to play again Friday.
The Golden Rams didn’t get their first hit until one out in the fifth inning when Erin MacNamee blooped a single into left field to break up Petrosoniak’s perfect game. Tara Colantuono laced a single to left in the sixth and Meghan Halberstadt lined a shot off the third baseman’s glove in the seventh for the only three hits of the ball game for West Chester.
Shannon Padula (23-12) suffered the loss inside the circle for West Chester. The southpaw gave up 10 hits and seven runs in six innings, going the distance, but only two of the seven runs were earned due to the fielding problems behind her. She also walked one and hit a batter.
Deanna Valentino was 3-for-3 and Julie Mackenzie 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead Cal’s offensive effort. Heather Bihler knocked in two runs as well for the Vulcans. Cal’s first three batters in the order combined to go 6-for-11 with five runs scored and three RBI.
Petrosoniak went the distance for Cal. She walked one and struck out four to go along with her three hits allowed.
