Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Erin MacNamee went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a pair of runs scored, and Kelly Anderson was a combined 4-for-6 in her college debut to lead West Chester to a sweep of a non-league softball doubleheader at Shepherd on Sunday afternoon.
West Chester (1-1) opened its 2011 campaign with an 8-6 win in the first game. However, Shepherd (3-3) took the night cap, 2-1.
MacNamee led off the first game with a triple and would later score on a two-out double from Kate Kmiecinski to stake the visitors to an early 1-0 lead. Shepherd tied up the game with a single tally in the bottom of the first. However, West Chester leaped back out in front with a pair of runs in the third and an explosive four-run fourth.
Freshman Kelly Anderson, who was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored in her college debut, singled to lead off the third inning and then stole second. Jessica Norris walked and then both Anderson and Norris moved up on a pair of passed balls with Anderson scoring on the second. Junior Abby Block then followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Norris.
Nicole Cruts singled to lead off the fourth. Brianna Rowlands came in to pinch run for Cruts and moved up to second on a single by Jessica Schuck. Megan Kelly then sacrificed the two runners over and West Chester had people at second and third with nobody out.
Anderson followed with a two-run single and then advanced to second when Shepherd attempted to cut down Schuck at the plate. MacNamee then singled, chasing home Anderson, and stole second. She would later move up to third on a passed ball and Norris would hit a RBI single, putting the Golden Rams on top, 7-1.
Shepherd would crawl back into the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the fifth. However, MacNamee singled home Anderson in the sixth to put the visitors back up by four (8-6). Shepherd scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, but that was as close as the hosts would come.
Utterback (1-0) surrendered four runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out two in picking up the win. Kate Skokowski threw the sixth and seventh, yielding two more runs on four hits and walking two.
Jillian Murray went 2-for-3 with the Rams’ lone RBI in the night cap. However, Shepherd scored a pair of runs in its final at bats to steal a 2-1 verdict. Kim Murl (0-1) went the distance, allowing one earned run on six hits, as the hard-luck loser. She walked two and struck out three.
Anderson, Kmiecinski and Rupert were the only other Golden Rams to register a hit against Nichole Pitcock (2-1), who picked up the win.
West Chester's doubleheader at Philadelphia University on Tuesday was postponed. The team will head south to Clermont, Fla., for its annual spring trip this coming weekend.
