WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Looking to extend its lead atop the PSAC East, West Chester (27-12, 15-3) returned to action on Tuesday afternoon against Millersville (19-19, 8-10). West Chester completed the season sweep of the Marauders behind a pair of stellar pitching performances from
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) and
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) winning game one 2-0 before taking the nightcap by a 3-2 final.
Game One: WCU 2 Millersville 0
After working out of a jam in the top of the third, West Chester took a two-run in the third with a sac fly by
Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest)) and a fielder's choice off the bat of
Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) to carry a 2-0 lead into the fourth.
Millersville got a two-out double from Gabi Turner in the fourth, threatening to strike back but reigning PSAC East Pitcher of the Week
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) (11-2) ended the threat with a strikeout to keep the Marauders scoreless for another inning.
Ciliberto continued to pitch well, making the most of her two-run lead, twirling another complete-game shutout, scattering just three hits and one walk while striking out seven en route to her 11
th victory of the season.
Morgan Crutcher got the start for Millersville and went the distance, scattering two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out one, falling to 4-8 on the season.
Game Two: WCU 3 Millersville 2
The Melvin sisters opened the scoring in the first inning as
Hailey Melvin singled home
Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca), who had singled to open the inning.
West Chester tacked on another two runs in the second with a series of base hits, including a pair of RBI singles from Melvin and
Katelyn Rittenbaugh (Donaldson, Pa./Pine Grove) to carry a 3-0 lead into the third.
Emma Zoldi (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) started the fourth with a double to left center and found her way to third with one out in the inning after an infield single by Melvin before the Marauders worked out of danger to keep the deficit at 3-0 heading into the fifth.
Millersville started the fifth with a solo home run down the left field line by Allyson Black, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Marauders added another run via another solo shot with two outs in the top of the sixth, which trimmed the deficit to 3-2 and led to the return of game one starter Ciliberto.
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) got the start and worked the first 3.2 innings, scattering just three hits and two runs while striking out four.
Entering in relief, Ciliberto allowed a first-pitch single before working around the early base runner to keep the score at 3-2 heading into the home half of the sixth.
Down to its last strike, Millersville got a double to left center by Gabby Vucolo, but Ciliberto worked around the late runner, striking out Victoria Fuss to end the game and lift West Chester to a 3-2 victory with her second save of the season.
Alex Schaefer got the start for Millersville and went the distance, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out four as she fell to 14-9 on the year.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Friday afternoon at Lock Haven, embarking on a 10-day road trip with the team's next home game not coming until Friday the 21
st vs East Stroudsburg.
