Box Score
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Katie Kmiecinski and Nicole Cruts each homered and Kim Murl pitched a complete game, six-hitter as West Chester University eliminated host California (Pa.), 4-1, in the third and final game of the day in the three-team, double-elimination pod of the 2011 PSAC Softball Tournament Thursday.
West Chester (32-17) advances to Friday where the Golden Rams will face Lock Haven for the right to advance to the championship round of the PSAC postseason tournament. West Chester won both its games on Thursday while Lock Haven split its two games, meaning Lock Haven must beat West Chester twice on Friday to advance.
The Golden Rams tied the school record for wins in a single season with its upset of the 20th-ranked Vulcans. West Chester has won 32 games now in three of the past four campaigns under head coach Diane Lokey. For the second straight season, the road to the conference championship round goes through Lock Haven.
Erin MacNamee went 2-for-2 against Cal while Kmiecinski hit a two-run shot in the first inning and Cruts hit a solo shot to lead off the second, after fouling off four straight pitches, to put WCU up, 4-0 early.
Murl (15-9) scattered six hits over seven innings, striking out one and walking zero.
