Gannon Tops West Chester 6-2

QUAKERTOWN, Pa.- The West Chester University softball team (37-12) continued its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoff run on Thursday afternoon against the Gannon Golden Knights (27-12). Gannon went on to win by a final score of 6-2.
 
Gannon jumped out to an early 3-0 lead plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a bases clearing double down the right field line from Kristina DeMatteis to take a 3-0 lead to the second inning. West Chester threatened in the top of the second, loading the bases but the Golden Rams could not push any across as Autumn Smith for Gannon made a great play on a sharply hit line drive down the first base line.
 
Gannon broke through for one more run in the bottom of the second, thanks to an RBI single back up the middle to score the runner from second and give Gannon a commanding 4-0 lead. Gannon tacked on another run on a double to center field to make the score 5-0 heading to the top of the third.
 
In the top of the fourth, West Chester got one back as #Bri Garber# (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) scored Emily Maseth (Westminster, Md./Westminster) to cut the deficit to 5-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth. Gannon threatened in the bottom of the fourth,but the Golden Rams managed to work out of the jam thanks to an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to head to the top of the fifth trailing 5-1.
 
Gannon broke through again in the bottom of the fifth, as Smith laced a triple down the right field line to score Rachel Tanilli, which extended the lead to 6-1 heading to the top of the sixth. West Chester broke through for one more run in the top of the sixth, when Garber singled to left to score #Annamarie Hartman# (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) to cut the deficit to 6-2.
 
This is all the Golden Rams would get as West Chester fell by a final score of 6-2.
 
Amanda Houck (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) lasted just two innings surrendering five runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out two in the loss before exiting in favor of #Brooke Harner# (Chadds Ford, Pa./Kennett) who went the final four innings surrendering just one run on four hits while striking out four. Kennedy DeMatteis (10-7) earned the start inside the circle for Gannon and she went 5.2 innings surrendering two runs on six hits while striking out one before exiting in favor of Madi Beining who went the final 1.1 walking one while striking out two.
 
West Chester will be back in action later this evening against Shippensburg in an elimination game beginning at 6 p.m.