No. 21 West Chester Splits Twinbill At Kutztown

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Jr., left-hander Amanda Houck (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) tossed a two-hit shutout to earn her 20th win of the season in the opener, but host Kutztown got the better of the Golden Rams in the nightcap, as the two PSAC East rivals split a critical softball doubleheader at North Campus Field Friday afternoon.
 
West Chester (30-8, 6-2 PSAC) took game one, 2-0 in nine innings, after earning two runs in the top of the ninth. However, Kutztown (24-9, 7-1) claimed the second game, 10-2 in five innings.
 
Bri Garber (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) singled with one out in the ninth, and Sarah Walasavage (Minersville, Pa./Minersville) reached on a fielding error by Kutztown's shortstop. Sara Ercolani (Downingtown, Pa./ Downingtown East) hit a fielder's choice, moving Walasavage to second as Garber was out at third. Cat Hammer (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) then doubled to right center, scoring both Walasavage and Ercolani with the only two runs Houck (20-2) would need.
 
Houck tossed nine scoreless innings, scattering six hits. She walked two and struck out seven. Kutztown righty Savannah Nierintz (16-2) was nearly as untouchable in the game. She went the distance, yielding five hits and striking out nine while not walking anybody. Both runs were unearned in the loss.
 
Hammer and Ercolani were both 2-for-3 during the second game. But, the Golden Bears' bats came alive and the hosts were able to salvage a split with the 10-2 decision.  A four-run fifth did in the Golden Rams.
 
Kutztown's Bridget Newman (5-4) pitched well, allowing two runs on eight hits. West Chester's starter, Brook Harner (Chadds Ford, Pa./ Kennett) dropped to 5-2 on the year. She lasted 1.2 innings, allowing three runs, only one of them earned, on four hits. She walked a batter and struck out one. Emily Maseth (Westminster, Md./Westminster) came on and threw 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Ashley Flesch (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock) finished up, surrendering four runs, three earned, on four hits in one-third of an inning.
 
West Chester will be in action tomorrow as they travel to Philadelphia to face Holy Family University in a non-league doubleheader. The first game is set for 12 p.m.