Press Conference
WEST CHESTER, Pa.- On a damp and overcast Thursday afternoon, the West Chester University softball team (45-13) opened up its NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional slate opposite PSAC West rival Gannon (32-15). The two teams played two games in an effort to decide the three-game series prior to more inclement weather entering the area over the course of the next two days. West Chester took both games in grand style, defeating Gannon in game one, 8-2, before taking game two by a final score of, 8-3.
This is the first time in team history that the West Chester University softball team has swept the Atlantic Region Tournament going 3-0 in the Region 1 Championship and going 2-0 in the Super Regionals. This is also West Chester's second trip to the Division II national finals in Salem, Va., in team history.
Game one: West Chester 8 Gannon 2
- West Chester raced out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning of play. Alyssa Herion (Avon Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) got the Golden Rams on the board first with an RBI bunt single to score Bri Garber (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), which gave West Chester the early 1-0 lead. The lead grew one batter later when Madison Kelly (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) scored when Herion took off for second to make the score 2-0 in favor of West Chester. Sara Ercolani (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) doubled in a pair of runs to give West Chester a commanding 4-0 lead.
- Gannon cut the deficit in half in the top of the second thanks to a two run shot off the bat of Rachel Tanilli to make the score 4-2 heading to the home half of the second.
- West Chester added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four more runs to make the score 8-2 heading to the fifth. Garber got things started reaching on a fielders choice, which scored Annamarie Hartman (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) to make the score 5-2. Kelly followed this up by reaching on a fielding error by the second basemen, which scored Garber and Heidi McCollester (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) to make the score 7-2. Cat Hammer (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) added to the lead one more time with an RBI single, which plated Kelly to give West Chester a commanding 8-2 lead.
- This would be all that the Golden Rams would need as Amanda Houck (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) was sharp all day going the distance scattering just five hits and two runs while striking out five in the victory. Madi Beining got the start for Gannon and she went the distance as well surrendering eight hits and eight runs (six earned) while walking two and striking out none.
Game two: West Chester 8 Gannon 3
- In the second game, it was Gannon's turn to jump out to an early lead as the Golden Knights drew first blood with an RBI double to right center off the bat of Sarah Ingerick to take a 1-0 lead to the fourth.
- West Chester answered back in the fifth, thanks to a textbook squeeze play as McCollester executed a perfect bunt, which Ercolani took full advantage of to tie the game at 1-1.
- In the sixth, West Chester exploded for six runs to take a commanding 7-1 lead to the bottom of the sixth inning of play. Herion got things rolling with an RBI single to score Kelly and give the Golden Rams their first lead of the game at 2-1. This lead grew shortly, thereafter, when Emily Maseth (Westminster, Md./Westminster) singled down the left field line to score Herion and make the score 3-1. Hartman followed this up with an RBI single back up the middle to score Caroline Adams (Media, Pa./Renaissance Academy) extending the lead to 4-1. McCollester put the game out of reach with a three-run moonshot to left center, which gave West Chester a commanding 7-1 lead.
- Tanilli broke through once again for Gannon with another two-run home run to cut the deficit to 7-3 heading to the seventh but a solo shot from Herion in the top of the seventh, gave West Chester a healthy 8-3 lead. This solo home run gives Herion 29 career home runs, which moves her into a tie for first atop the career home runs leaderboard.
- Brooke Harner (Chadds Ford, Pa./Kennett) went 5.2 scattering just five hits and three runs while striking out three to pick up the decisive game two victory. Houck entered for the final four outs and allowed just one hit to shut down Gannon. Kennedy DeMatteis got the ball for Gannon and she went 6.1 surrendering 13 hits and eight runs (seven earned) while walking one and striking out two. Beining entered in relief of DeMatteis and pitched the final 0.2 inning striking out one in the process.
West Chester now advances to the NCAA Division II national finals next weekend in Salem, Va. The Golden Rams are expected to open their national finals campaign next Thursday afternoon. But, a full schedule will be made available early next week once the field is set.
