Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – With a steady wind blowing straight out to centerfield, West Chester University hit four home runs in a softball doubleheader sweep over PSAC East rival East Stroudsburg on an unseasonably cold Friday afternoon. The Golden Rams took game one, 10-1, in five innings and captured the second game, 11-8.
West Chester (13-11, 2-2 PSAC East) needed the sweep badly after opening league play on Tuesday with a pair of losses at Shippensburg. East Stroudsburg (9-13, 0-2) began its two-day road trip with a pair of losses to open league competition.
The Golden Rams scored seven runs in the bottom of the first in the opener and rode the arm of freshman Kim Murl the rest of the way. Murl (6-6) tossed a three-hitter over five innings, allowing one run and striking out three without walking a batter.
Kate Kmiecinski (3-for-3) hit her third home run of the season, a solo shot, in the second inning. Erin MacNamee finished 2-for-2 with three RBI, and Nicole Cruts banged out a pair of hits and knocked in a run.
East Stroudsburg’s Amanda McKay (2-1) surrendered 10 runs, nine of them earned, on 10 hits and walked four and struck out two.
In the nightcap, the wind picked up and the two squads combined for six home runs – three aside.
West Chester scored three runs in the second, after falling behind 2-0. Kelly Anderson hit a two-run double to highlight that frame. When ESU answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, the Golden Rams came right back with a three-spot in the bottom half that put the hosts on top 7-4. MacNamee tripled to center to lead off the inning, and Jessica Norris hit a sacrifice fly to score MacNamee. Kmiecinski followed with a single to right, and Jillian Murray smashed her team-leading fifth home run of the season.
The Warriors answered back with two more runs in the top of the sixth to close the gap to a single run, 7-6. However, West Chester wasn’t done either. The Rams put up four runs in their half of the inning to open up an 11-6 lead.
Megan Kelly hit her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to left-center field, and MacNamee followed with a solo shot to left. Murray would record a sacrifice fly later in the frame to close out West Chester’s scoring in the second game.
Devon Utterback (7-2) picked up the win, going five innings and scattering eight hits. She allowed four runs to score, walked one and struck out four. Murl (3) came on to record her third save of the game, despite surrendering a pair of two-run homers in the sixth and seventh innings.
Laura Suits (2-8) took the loss inside the circle for East Stroudsburg. She yielded 10 earned runs on 12 hits while walking three and striking out five.
MacNamee finished the second game 2-for-3, and Kmiecinksi, Abby Block and Kelly also had a pair of hits. Murray finished with three RBI while Anderson and Kelly registered two apiece.
West Chester is back home on Saturday with a non-league doubleheader against Chowan beginning at 1 p.m.
