No. 7 West Chester Sweeps University of Mary In Florida

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLERMONT, Fla. – A pair of freshmen picked up wins inside the circle, and Sarah Walasavage (Minersville, Pa./Minersville) hit her first career home run in game two, as seventh-ranked West Chester swept a non-league softball doubleheader from University of Mary, 9-1 (5 inn) and 2-1, Friday morning at the Dot Richardson Spring Games.
 
West Chester (2-0) got off to a quick start with the bats in game one, and then settled in behind a strong outing from Amanda Houck (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) in the second game. Mary (6-12) dropped its  second and third straight game as the Marauders concluded their spring break trip, before heading back to Bismarck, N.D.
 
Freshman right-hander Brooke Harner (Chadds Ford, Pa./Kennett) (1-0) drew the opening day start, picking up the win in game one. It marked the first time since Brittany Rees in 2007 that a first-year hurler collected a win on opening day. It also was the first time since 2009 (Sam Soprano) that head coach Diane Lokey gave the ball to a freshman on opening day at all.
 
Harner went the distance in game one, giving up one unearned run on four hits while walking two and striking out one. Houck (1-0) tossed the first 6.1 innings in the nightcap, before giving way to junior righty Katie Erb (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), who collected her first save of the season and fifth of her career.
 
Erb came on in relief with runners on the corners and one out in the bottom of the seventh of game two. Mary's runner at first stole second, and the next batter up hit an infield single that did not advance anybody, but left the bases loaded. The next batter lined into a double play to end the threat and the game. Haley Bollinger (Maytown, Pa./Donegal) recorded the unassisted double play at second base that ended the contest.
 
Houck's final line read one earned run on six hits, two walks and one strikeout.
 
Walasavage finished 1-for-3 at the plate in the second game with a walk to go along with her home run. Madison Kelly (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall), Erin Quense (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), Erin Whitman (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and Char Conaway (Radnor, Pa./Radnor) all recorded hits for the Rams.
 
Kelly went 3-for-4 with a RBI in the opener, coming a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. She scored two runs. Walasavage went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and a pair of walks. She scored twice as well.
 
West Chester continues its southern trip Saturday with a 9 a.m. tilt against Urbana (Ohio) University and a 1 p.m. showdown with Ferris State (Mich.).