Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. - The West Chester softball team, ranked No. 21 in the latest NFCA rankings, extended their undefeated streak to 17 games with a 4-1 win against Urbana. However, a late sixth inning comeback versus Charleston (10-2) fell just short resulting in a 6-5 nail-biter loss. The 17 game win streak is the longest all-time to start a season for West Chester softball.
West Chester (17-1) got a solid pitching performance in game one from senior
Katie Erb (Douglasville, Pa./Daniel Boone). Erb (4-0) allowed one run on five hits and struck out four Urbana batters in a complete game effort.
Sara Ercolani (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East),
Cat Hammer (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), and
Sarah Walasavage (Minersville, Pa./Minersville) each collected two hits apiece en route to the Golden Rams' four runs.
Walasavage blasted her first home run of the 2016 season, a solo homer over the center field fence. WCU's center fielder accounted for two of the Rams' four runs.
Scoring four runs in the top half of the third and two in the fourth, Charleston built a 6-0 lead at the midpoint of game two. However,
Brooke Harner (Chadds Ford, Pa./Kennett) was inserted into the game, and the sophomore stifled the Charleston bats for the remaining 3.2 innings. Allowing only one hit and striking out six, Harner gave the Golden Rams' offense a chance to spark a comeback.
WCU's first threat came in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second. However, the threat ended there.
Walasavage executed a perfect bunt to lead off the sixth inning, and advanced to third on a throwing error by Charleston's third baseman. The Rams would rally to score five runs in the sixth.
Laura Altenburger (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) and
Hayley Bollinger (Maytown, Pa./Donegal) both hit RBI doubles to the center field fence in the sixth.
Pinch hitter
Ashley Flesch (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock) had a huge two-RBI single off the bench for the Rams.
With runners on first and second, Walasavage hit a hard ground ball that looked as if it may get through the right side. However, Charleston's second baseman showed range and was able to keep the ball in the infield, holding the tying run at third base.
West Chester would leave them loaded in the sixth, and Charleston extended its winning streak to nine.
Walasavage went 4-for-7 on the day and increased her team leading batting average to .423.
The No. 21 Golden Rams are back in action tomorrow with games against Wayne State at 9 a.m. and Slippery Rock at 1 p.m.
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