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CLERMONT, Fla. – Erin Quense hit a two-run home run during a three-run fourth that propelled West Chester to a 3-2 win over Southern Connecticut State University in the second of two games at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont Sunday. West Chester also topped Mercy, 11-7.
West Chester (11-5) upped its winning streak to a season-high six games with the win and finishes its weekend in the Sunshine State at 6-2. Southern Connecticut State (3-5) was ranked 14th in the country two weeks ago. The Owls were the first team listed “among others receiving votes” in the latest NFCA coaches’ poll.
Quense’s first career home run was a two-run shot in the fourth that put West Chester on top, 2-1. Kelly Anderson later drew a bases loaded walk to score the Golden Rams’ other tally.
SCSU added a run in the top of the seventh, but could not get the equalizer across against Devon Utterback (4-1), who threw a complete game. She allowed two runs, one of them earned, on eight hits. She walked two and struck out four. Her consecutive scoreless innings streak was snapped at 15.
Quense finished the second game 3-for-3 while Lauren Altenburger went 2-for-3.
In the first game against Mercy, West Chester scored six runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to keep Mercy at bay and come away with an 11-7 win. The Rams’ six-run fifth gave them an 8-2 lead. However, Mercy fought back with four runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame to pull within two.
Kate Skokowski (5-4) started and lasted 4.2 innings. She allowed six runs, though only two of those were earned. She scattered seven hits, walking three and striking out three. Utterback came on in relief in the fifth to get West Chester out of that inning. She finished up the rest of the way to pick up her first save of the season.
Megan Kelly was 3-for-4 with five RBI, including a bases loaded triple in the fifth that was the big blow in that rally. Ali Vavala was 3-for-4 while Anderson registered a pair of RBI at the plate.
West Chester is back on the road next weekend when the Rams travel to Troutville, Va. for the West Virginia Tournament. They will take on Ohio Valley and Bluefield College on Friday.
