CLEARWATER, Fl.- For the first time in 2019, the No. 8 West Chester University softball team (0-1) took to the field at the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic to begin the defense of its NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Title opposite Wayne State (1-0). Seven innings was not enough to decide a victor in this contest as the game went into extra innings where Wayne State captured the victory winning by a final score of 1-0 in nine innings.
West Chester threatened throughout the afternoon as the Golden Rams found ways to reach base safely in almost every inning while getting runners to second base or further in almost half of the innings. However, the Wayne State defense led by 11 strikeouts from pitcher Megan Guitar (1-0) made the plays and pitches necessary to keep West Chester off the scoreboard.
Perhaps the best opportunity of the afternoon for the Golden Rams came during the third inning when West Chester had runners on the corners thanks to back-to-back singles from Jamie Klemas (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) and Gillian Thomas (Spring Mills, W.V./Williamsport). Unfortunately, this opportunity came with two outs and the Golden Rams were unable to convert as the inning ended with a strikeout.
In the ninth inning, the pitchers' duel came to a close as Bryanna Kressler singled home Rainey Psenicka for what would be the only run of the contest.
Reilly Gearhart (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim) (0-1) made her West Chester debut on Friday morning and pitched a gem surrendering just two hits and one unearned run while striking out five in the loss.
