WEST CHESTER, PA. - West Chester swept visiting Holy Family Sunday afternoon in a non-conference softball doubleheader on South Campus. The Golden Rams won game one, 10-0, and then took game two, 9-1. Both contests were shortened to five innings.
West Chester (6-0) scored 19 runs and brought in 19 hits during the doubleheader on Sunday.
GAME ONE
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To open up game one, sophomore Trisha Kopinetz (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) hit a home run to center left field to put the Golden Rams on the board, 1-0. In the second inning, and Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest) ran home on a wild pitch to bring the lead to 2-0.
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The Golden Rams brought in eight runs in the third inning. That eight-run frame was highlighted by RBI doubles from fifth-year senior, Courtney Stump (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) and sophomore Katelyn Rittenbaugh (Donaldson, Pa./Pine Grove).
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Sophomore Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, NJ./Seneca) and fifth-year senior Bri Garber (Willow Street, Pa./ Lampeter-Strasburg) each contributed a single to leave the Golden Rams lead at 10-0 in the third.
Freshman Mary Picozzi (Collegeville, Pa./Lansdale-Catholic) threw her first collegiate no-hitter Sunday afternoon. Picozzi improves her record on the season to 2-0 facing only 26 batters and throwing two strikeouts. She worked out of a fourth-inning bases loaded jam after walking one and hitting two batters.
GAME TWO
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In the bottom of the first, West Chester plated four unearned runs to take the lead for good. Senior Jamie Klemas (South Brunswick, NJ./South Brunswick) doubled to left center field scoring two (Stump and Kopinetz. Aguilar and junior Emily Kim (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) each followed with doubles to give the Golden Rams the 4-1 advantage after one.
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In the second inning, Stump singled up the middle to bring in another unearned run.
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West Chester then plated four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game early. A bases-loaded walk from sophomore Haleigh Karcher (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) got the ball rolling. Garber singled to left to bring home Rittenbaugh. Kopinetz then walked with the bases full, and Melvin scored off a wild pitch to end the game.
INSIDE THE STATS | GAME ONE
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Rittenbaugh, Garber, and Melvin combined for 6 RBI.
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Kopinetz leads the team in home runs with four on the season. She has hit at least one homer in every doubleheader this season thus far.
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The Golden Rams had seven successful stolen base attempts against the Tigers.
INSIDE THE STATS | GAME TWO
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Garber and Rittenbaugh combined for four RBI.
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Senior Jen Hanshaw(Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) improved to 2-0 on the season. She allowed one run and struck out eight.
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Klemas posted two RBI.
THOUGHTS FROM MARY PICOZZI
"Definitely exciting. I didn't know it was a no-hitter until they made the announcement at the end. My screwball was working well. I did throw a few no-hitters in high school, but it's definitely different in college.
"I just focused on throwing strikes and letting my defense play behind me."
HEAD COACH DIANE LOKEY ON THE NO-HITTER
"We've been working really hard with (Mary) on slowing down her pace and taking time in-between pitches. I think it really showed today.
"I think she bounced back (from fourth inning trouble) and started to take her time in-between pitches again. It's hard to simulate a game until you are in one. I think she will continue to grow as the season goes on.
"All the pitchers are getting better every day and adjusting to compete at this level.
"I had no idea she had a no-hitter going. She was just out there doing her job. I thought about putting in (Hanshaw), but (Picozzi) needs to learn how to finish games. So, I sent her back out there."
The Golden Rams are back in action on Tuesday when they are on the road against Lock Haven University. Games are scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm that afternoon.
