WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Looking to jump out to an early 1-0 series lead for the second year in a row, the West Chester University softball team (38-19) returned home on Thursday afternoon for the first of a three-game set opposite MEC and future PSAC Rival Shepherd (41-17). West Chester did just that as the Golden Rams raced out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back in the 10-1 victory to open the Super Regional.
After a quiet first two-and-a half innings, West Chester exploded for seven runs during the home half of the third courtesy of smart base running and some timely, situational hitting. Bri Garber (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) worked a bases loaded walk to score the first run of the game, which Annamarie Hartman (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) followed up with a hit by pitch to plate another run. Emily Maseth (Westminster, Md./Westminster) came through with a bases-clearing three RBI single to plate another three runs and give West Chester a commanding 5-0 lead. This lead grew moments later when Maseth scampered home on a wild pitch before Heidi McCollester (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) came to around to score on a wild pitch of her own moments later, thus, extending the lead to 7-0.
In the top of the fourth, Shepherd answered back with a solo home run to left field off the bat of Lori Sturgill, which made the score 7-1 heading to the home half of the fourth.
West Chester responded moments later with a three-run shot over the center field fence from McCollester, which gave West Chester a commanding 10-1 lead. This three-run home run also gave McCollester the single-season RBI record as she now has 69 RBI on the season, which is one more than Sam Ingersoll's 2010 record. Additionally, McCollester now sits in a tie for second in single-season history in home runs as this afternoon's long ball was her 11th of the season and 20th of her career to move her into a tie for fifth in career home runs.
When asked about her breakout senior campaign that has seen her double her career home run total and set the programs single-season RBI record, McCollester stated, "I am not a big stats person so I go out every day with the mentality to try and help the team as best I can, which has turned into this breakout season. As for my performance this season, I have really focused on more quality at-bats and just making solid contact instead of trying to crush the ball. Losing as much as we did this year from last year's team, I felt like I really needed to step and be the person that I could be for my team to try and get us back to the National Finals."
Maegen Kavanagh (Easton, Pa./Easton) continued her impressive role as of late as she went the distance scattering just three hits and one run while striking out one to earn her 11th victory of the season and improve to 11-4 on the year. Her counterpart, Sturgill lasted just three innings in the loss surrendering three hits and seven runs (three earned) while walking four and striking out one while also recording a pair of wild pitches. Cheyenne Van Pelt entered in relief of Sturgill and did not fair much better as she lasted just one inning surrderning three hits and three runs with a walk in the game one setback.
When asked about the series opening victory, Head Coach Diane Lokey stated, "We had a great pitching performance from Meg and I am really proud of the defensive plays we made behind her. I am also really happy with how well our team adjusted offensively, overall I think it was a really great performance from this group against a very talented Shepherd team."
West Chester and Shepherd will meet at least one more time tomorrow with that game beginning at 12 p.m. If () wins game one tomorrow this will force the teams to play a third game of the series to determine the Atlantic Regional Champion and who will continue their season in Denver next weekend.
