MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The West Chester University softball team (0-1) kicked off its 2018 season on Friday morning when it squared off against the University of New Haven Chargers (1-0) in game one of the Snowbird Freezeout Tournament. West Chester dropped this game by a final score of 8-3.
After going scoreless through the first two innings of play thanks in part to strong West Chester defense, including a double play by #
Heidi McCollester#
(West Chester, Pa./Henderson) and #
Courtney Stump#
(Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) and a caught stealing by #
Cat Hammer#
(Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) during the first inning. In the third inning, New Haven benefited from some timely hitting and a throwing error by
#
Sara Ercolani#
(Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) to take a 2-0 lead over West Chester.
In the bottom of the third inning, #
Annamarie Hartman#
(Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) led things off with a walk, which #
Emily Maseth#
(Westminster, Md./Westminster) followed up with a hard single into left to move Hartman to second. #
Bri Garber#
(Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) followed up by drawing a walk to load the bases with just one out. Ercolani then singled to left field to score Hartman to make the score 2-1.
The Golden Rams took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when #
Caroline Adams#
(Media, Pa./Renaissance Academy) successfully stole home on a passed ball to tie the score at 2-2. Maseth then smoked a ball to short that the shortstop was unable to handle, which allowed her to reach via an error while also driving in Hartman to give the Golden Rams a 3-2 lead.
In the top of fifth inning, New Haven used a three-run homer and more timely hitting to score six runs and take an 8-3 lead. The Golden Rams were unable to solve the Chargers pitching in the final three innings, giving New Haven the 8-3 victory.
#
Amanda Houck#
(Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) got the start on Friday morning, and she went three innings surrendering just two unearned runs to receive a no decision. #
Maegen Kavanagh#
(Easton, Pa./Easton) took the loss for the Golden Rams in this contest. West Chester, Pa., native Megan Butts went the distance against her hometown team to give New Haven the victory.
The Golden Rams will return to the field at 12 p.m. when they take on Saint Anselm College in their second game of the day.
