WEST CHESTER, Pa.-The West Chester softball team (13-10, 1-1) opened PSAC East play on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against Lock Haven (11-9, 1-3), splitting the matchup vs the Bald Eagles with an 8-4 win in the first game before dropping the nightcap by a 4-3 final.
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) pitched in relief in both games and ended up with the decision in each, pitching masterfully in game one to earn the victory before being saddled with a tough loss in the nightcap. Ciliberto, who was not charged with an earned run on the afternoon, pitched four innings over the course of the two games, allowing just two hits and striking out six throughout the two appearances.
Olivia Mock (Clifton, Va./Paul V) and
Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) each picked an excellent time for their first home runs of the season in game one, each coming through with a clutch home run in the decisive sixth inning in game one to help West Chester take the first game of the doubleheader. Melvin had a great day at the plate for West Chester, going 4-for-6 with two extra-base hits (a home run in game one and a double in game two) along with four RBI and a pair of runs scored to help lead West Chester throughout the afternoon.
Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) also reached the 200-hit plateau in today's doubleheader, becoming the ninth player in school history to record 200 hits.
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Game One: WCU 8 Lock Haven 4
West Chester got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of four hits, including an RBI single by
Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) and an RBI double by
Abby Quinn (Cheltenham, Pa./William Penn Charter).
Lock Haven answered back in the fourth with a pair of two-run home runs, which gave Lock Haven a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.
This outburst also closed the book on
Samantha Klug (East Norriton, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy), who worked the first 3.2 and allowed four runs on five hits while tying her career high for strikeouts with six.
West Chester rallied in the bottom of the sixth using a solo home run from Melvin and a two-run shot by
Olivia Mock (Clifton, Va./Paul V) to take a 6-4 lead. West Chester added two more via an RBI triple by
Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J/Seneca) and a fielding error by the Bald Eagles, which allowed Melvin to score and move the lead to 8-4.
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) picked up the win in relief to improve to 4-1 on the year after working the final 3.1, allowing just one hit, while striking out five, including the side in the top of the seventh to lift West Chester to the game-one victory.
Jada Schellhammer (6-4) got the start for Lock Haven and worked the first 5.1, allowing six runs on nine hits while striking out one in the setback. Kinley Gioglio entered in relief and got the final two outs while allowing two hits and two runs (one earned).
Game Two: LHU 4 WCU 3
West Chester took an early lead in the first when
Hailey Melvin drove in big sister Madison with a hard liner to left, giving the Purple and Gold an early 1-0 lead.
Lock Haven answered quickly with a run of its own via a sac fly to center in the second to even the score at 1-1.
Cyd Keidaisch (Pottstown, Pa./Boyertown) reached with a two-out single in the home second and later came around to score on an RBI double by
Casey Best (Wilmington, Del./Concord) to give WCU a 2-1 lead heading into the third.
Lock Haven answered back with another run in the third to even the score at 2-2. This counter closed the book on
Mary Picozzi (Collegeville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic), who worked the first 2.1, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out another.
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) entered in relief of Picozzi with one away in the third. The Bald Eagles loaded the bases with one away, but Edwards worked out of the jam, ending it with a strikeout to keep the game tied at 2-2.
West Chester retook the lead in the fifth with an RBI single off the bat of Melvin, which plated
Katelyn Rittenbaugh (Donaldson, Pa./Pine Grove), who had tripled earlier in the inning.
West Chester appeared as if it might hold on for a narrow 3-2 win over the Bald Eagles in the nightcap, but Lock Haven had other ideas as the visitors pushed across two runs in the seventh to take a 4-3 lead.
West Chester got runners on first and second with one out in the seventh after a walk by
Madison Melvin and a bunt single by Rittenbaugh, but Madison Waltman and the Bald Eagles worked out of trouble to hold on for a 4-3 victory.
Ciliberto (4-2) took the loss for West Chester in this game, entering in relief of Edwards in the seventh and allowing the game-winning run to score on an RBI single before eventually working out of the jam with a strikeout to end the top of the seventh. Edwards finished with a final line of 4.0 innings pitched, scattering two runs (one earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out three in relief of Picozzi.
Waltman pitched well for Lock Haven on Sunday, tossing a complete game, scattering eight hits and three runs while walking two and striking out a pair of Golden Rams to help the Bald Eagles earn the split.
Up Next:
West Chester will have little time to dwell on today's split as the Golden Rams continue their gauntlet stretch, facing off against Mansfield tomorrow at 11 a.m. at home before visiting Millersville on Tuesday afternoon.
