Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – J.P. Norris went 2-for-3 with her first home run of the season in the nightcap as host West Chester University managed a split of a PSAC East softball doubleheader with visiting East Stroudsburg on a sunny, but cool, Friday afternoon.
Erin Quense’s pinch-hit double in the bottom of the sixth inning plated the eighth run, ending the contest due to the eight-run rule after five innings for West Chester (19-14, 2-4 PSAC East). East Stroudsburg (7-16, 3-3) took the opener, 3-2, on a two-hitter from pitcher Taylor Webb as the Warriors split their third straight league twinbill.
West Chester scored three times in the sixth to put a stop to the game prematurely. Jess Schuck led off the frame by reaching on a throwing error by ESU’s shortstop and then moving up to second base. After Erin Whitman walked, Abby Block hit a RBI single up the middle that plated pinch-runner Kim Begley. Megan Kelly then laid down a successful RBI sacrifice bunt that brought home pinch-runner Ashley Ford, before Quense knocked in pinch-runner Brianna Rowlands from second with her game-ending double.
Kate Skokowski (5-2) went the distance inside the circle for the shutout in game two. She scattered five hits without walking anybody or striking out anybody. Marianne Wright (3-3) suffered the loss for East Stroudsburg. She allowed five runs on six hits and struck out two. Shaylyn Wood got one out in the sixth, before West Chester ended the contest.
In the opener, an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning held up for West Chester until East Stroudsburg put up three runs in the top of the fifth to go ahead. The Golden Rams scored one more time in the bottom of the sixth to draw within one. However, pinch-runner Melissa Spinosa was thrown out at third base when she tagged on a deep fly to left by Block that was enough to get Rowlands home.
East Stroudsburg’s left fielder threw in to third base to cut down Spinosa moments after Rowlands crossed the plate to make it a 3-2 game.
Schuck and Kelly Anderson each doubled, picking up the only two hits of the game for the Rams.
Devon Utterback (8-7) suffered the loss for West Chester. She lasted 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on four hits. Skokowski threw the last 1.2 innings.
West Chester travels to Indiana (Pa.) for an inter-divisional doubleheader with the Crimson Hawks on Saturday.
