WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) hit a pair of home runs, and West Chester (5-4) got a pair of stellar pitching performances from freshman pitchers
Samantha Klug (East Norriton, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) and
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) as the Golden Rams swept a doubleheader against Jefferson (1-3) by a final of 8-0 in game one and 7-0 in the nightcap.
Klug, who was named PSAC East Pitcher of the Week a week ago, made her case to repeat this honor this week, turning in another outstanding effort as she pitched a no-hitter, allowing just one walk while striking out four to help West Chester earn the victory.
In addition to the stellar day in the circle by her freshman pitchers, catcher
Abby Quinn (Cheltenham, Pa./William Penn Charter) also had a great day behind the plate, throwing out three runners from behind the dish, registering a pair of caught stealings before coming through with a pickoff in the seventh inning of the game two victory over the Rams.
Game One: WCU 8 Jefferson 0 (5 Innings)
Freshman pitcher
Samantha Klug (East Norriton, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) pitched a no-hitter, marking the second year in a row in which West Chester has had a freshman pitcher throw a no-no (Edwards vs ESU on 4/16/22), and her offense came through with a big five-run fifth to give West Chester an 8-0 victory.
Klug was in control throughout, scattering just one walk and striking out four to earn her third victory of the season.
West Chester threatened early, getting a first-inning triple from
Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest), but it wasn't until an RBI single from
Cyd Keidaisch (Pottstown, Pa./Boyertown) in the fourth that West Chester took its first lead of the game. West Chester tacked on two more runs in the inning by virtue of heads-up base running, carrying a 3-0 lead into the fifth.
Olivia Mock (Clifton, Va./Paul V) hit a two-RBI double in the fifth to stretch the lead to 5-0 before a passed ball scored
Abby Quinn (Cheltenham, Pa./William Penn Charter)and stretched the lead to 6-0.
Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) followed this up with a two-run laser home run down the left-field line, which gave West Chester an 8-0 lead and a shortened game-one win.
Game Two: WCU 7 Jefferson 0
Hopkins continued her big day in the second game, hitting a three-run home run in the second game, which following a Rbi single by Aguilar, gave West Chester a 4-0 lead heading into the third.
In the third, Hopkins extended the lead again with a sac-fly RBI, which plated
Emma Zoldi (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) and gave West Chester a 5-0 lead.
The Golden Rams used a pair of RBI bunts from
Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) and Aguilar to extend the lead to 7-0, with West Chester threatening for more. The Golden Rams had runners on second third with one out, but Jefferson worked out of the jam to trail 7-0 heading into the fifth.
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon), who showcased her bat during the Golden Rams trip to Georgia last week, showed her pitching prowess on Saturday afternoon, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out six to pick up her first collegiate win in her first start.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action next Sunday at Virginia State, beginning at 1 p.m.
