Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Meghan Halberstadt and Kate Kmiencinski hit back-to-back home runs in game one, and Megan Harbaugh and Samantha Soprano each left the yard in the nightcap to lead host West Chester to a non-league softball sweep of a doubleheader against visiting University of the Sciences (USP) on Tuesday afternoon.
With the wind blowing out, West Chester (19-7) flexed its muscle to pick up a five-inning 8-0 shutout over USP (4-16) in the opener. The Golden Rams then scored eight unanswered runs in the second tilt to sweep the doubleheader with an 8-1 decision.
Halberstadt hit a two-run shot over the center field fence with one out in the third inning that gave the Rams a 4-0 lead. That blast chased starter Erin Degnan (2-5) . However, Kmiencinski greeted reliever Gina Murray with a poke to left, completing West Chester’s five-run rally in the frame. Erin MacNamee had led off the third with a triple off the right-center field fence and scored on a wild pitch. Evelyn Anderson walked, and Samantha Ingersoll doubled her home to put WCU up 2-0.
West Chester tacked on two more in the fourth when Halberstadt popped up to the first baseman in foul territory near the Devils’ dugout. However, Anderson tagged from third and scored on the play. Ingersoll advanced to second on the throw home and would later score on an RBI single by Shannon Padula.
Anderson scored the game-winning run on a double by Ingersoll when USP’s centerfielder misplayed the ball in the outfield, allowing Anderson to come all the way around with the game-ending tally.
Padula (10-3) pitched five innings, scattering five hits for the shutout inside the circle. She struck out four and threw one wild pitch.
USP scored once in the top of the first inning of game two, but West Chester quickly doused any hopes of an upset with three in their half of the first and five more in the second to take a 7-1 lead.
Ingersoll singled in a run, and Harbaugh hit a two-run homer in the first to stake the Rams to a 3-1 lead after one inning of play. Freshman pitcher Samantha Soprano then hit her first college home run in just her second career at bat to lead off the second inning.
Anderson had an RBI bunt single, MacNamee stole home and Ingersoll doubled in a run later in the second to make it a 6-1 game. Halberstadt then hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Ingersoll with the eighth run of the game.
Soprano (9-4) went the distance, allowing one run on three hits, walking four and striking out one. Halberstadt finished 2-for-4 with four RBI in the doubleheader while Ingersoll was 5-for-7 with three RBI. Anderson went 2-for-4 with four runs scored.
Rachel Morgan (2-7) pitched the entire second game for USP, allowing five earned runs, walking one and striking out eight. Dayna Phillips was 2-for-4 on the day for the Devils. She scored USP’s only run in game two.
West Chester travels to Shippensburg for a PSAC East doubleheader on Thursday before heading to Millersville on Saturday for another league twinbill.
