Box Score Box Score
DRIFTON, Pa. – Indiana (Pa.) scored three runs in the first and one more in the second en route to a 4-1 victory over West Chester in the opening game of the 2012 PSAC Softball Tournament at the ASA of PA Complex on a cold and windy Wednesday morning.
West Chester (28-24) walked four batters and committed an error in the outfield that aided IUP (25-12-1) during its three-run first. Marissa Leslie led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run down the right field line to get things started early for the Crimson Hawks.
Golden Rams starter Devon Utterback (14-12) lasted just 1.1 innings, yielding four runs on three hits and walking six. Only three of her four runs were earned. Kate Skokowski went the rest of the way, giving up just one hit and walking one while striking out two.
Jess Schuck and Nicole Cruts each finished 2-for-3 in the game. Megan Kelly knocked in Schuck in the fourth inning with the Rams’ lone run of the game. West Chester had a player thrown out at home plate on a come-backer to the circle with the bases loaded, and then left the bags full unable to capitalize on what may have been a big inning.
IUP’s Kelly King (17-6) went the distance for the Hawks, surrendering seven hits. She walked one and struck out eight, getting out of trouble in the fourth.
West Chester falls into the loser’s bracket of the postseason tournament and will take on Mercyhurst at 4 p.m. in an elimination game. The Lakers lost to No. 2 Kutztown, 4-0, in their tournament opener Wednesday morning.
