CLEARWATER, Fl.-The West Chester University softball team (0-4) was back in action for the fourth time in two days this afternoon against Tampa (5-0) on Day Two of the NFCA DII Leadoff Classic. West Chester battled hard but Tampa proved to be too much in the 2-1 setback for the Golden Rams.
Annamarie Hartman (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) gave the Golden Rams some early offense as she laced a double into right-center to give West Chester a runner on second with just one out. Hartman utilized her speed moments later to advance to third on a wild pitch before
Emily Maseth (Westminster, Md./Westminster) doubled to left to score Hartman and give West Chester an early 1-0 lead.
Heidi McCollester (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) managed to move Maseth over to third after a long fly ball out in right but the Golden Rams were unable to bring Maseth across, thus, sending the game to the second with West Chester leading 1-0.
Tampa evened the score in the home half of the third inning following some smart base running by the Spartans and some bad luck for the Golden Rams to send the game to the fourth tied at 1-1.
Smart base running would prove critical for Tampa as the Spartans registered the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly to left field, which made the score 2-1 in favor of the home team.
Jen Hanshaw (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) got the start in the circle and pitched very well overall as she went 4.2 innings scattering just five hits and one unearned run in the no-decision.
Reilly Gearhart (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) (0-3) was saddled with the loss after entering for the final 1.1 and surrendering one run, one hit, and one walk in the contest.
Makaleigh Dooley (3-0) picked up her third victory of the spring for Tampa as she went the distance surrendering five hits and one run while registering 10 strikeouts.
West Chester will look to rebound tomorrow morning when the Golden Rams square off against West Florida with that matchup scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in what will be the squads final game at the Leadoff Classic.
