LOCK HAVEN, Pa.-Looking to continue its winning ways, the West Chester softball team (29-12, 17-3) took to the road on Friday evening to square off against Lock Haven (18-18, 8-12). Seeking revenge for a split with the Bald Eagles earlier this season, West Chester did just that, capturing both games by a 5-2 final with the first game of the day requiring extra innings to decide a victor.
Game One: WCU 5 Lock Haven 2 (9 innings)
Lock Haven got out to an early lead with an RBI single back up the middle in the bottom of the first. This lead held up until the third when
Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest) came through with a two-RBI single to give West Chester a 2-1 lead.
In the fourth, Lock Haven loaded the bases with one out in the inning, which allowed the Bald Eagles to accomplish something few other PSAC East team's have in recent games, chasing
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) from the game.
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) entered in relief and got the second out of the inning quickly on a fly ball to center, however, this allowed the tying run to score, evening the game at 2-2. Edwards escaped the inning without any further damage, sending the game to the fifth even at 2-2.
West Chester picked up a two-out single by
Cyd Keidaisch (Pottstown, Pa./Boyertown) in the seventh and appeared as if she may come around to score, after stealing second but the Bald Eagles escaped the inning with a grounder to keep the game tied at 2-2.
Lock Haven started the seventh with an infield single and eventually loaded the bases with two outs in the inning but West Chester escaped the inning after a nice defensive play by
Olivia Mock (Clifton, Va./Paul V), to send the game to extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth,
Emma Zoldi (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) broke the tie with an RBI double down the left-field line, which scored
Sierra Marsteller (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) to give West Chester a 3-2 lead.
Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) drove in Zoldi moments later with an RBI single to left to make the score 4-2 before scoring a run of her own on an RBI single by
Katelyn Rittenbaugh (Donaldson, Pa./Pine Grove) to push the lead to 5-2 head into the bottom of the ninth.
Down to its final out in the home ninth, Lock Haven got a runner on via a walk but Edwards (6-5) and West Chester avoided any further trouble to hold on for the 5-2 victory.
Ciliberto worked the first 3.1 scattering two runs on three hits while walking one before exiting in favor of Edwards. Edwards picked up the win in the circle after pitching the final 5.2, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out a pair.
Madison Waltman took the game one loss for Lock Haven, allowing four runs on nine hits along with two walks and one strikeout over her 8.2 innings of work.
Game Two: WCU 5 LHU 2
West Chester took its first lead of the game in the top of the third when Rittenbaugh tripled home Melvin, who had singled earlier in the inning. Despite having a runner on third with just one out, West Chester was unable to push any additional runs across in the third as Lock Haven worked out of further trouble.
In the top of the fourth, West Chester extended its lead to 4-0 courtesy of a two-run home run off the bat of
Casey Best (Wilmington, Del./Concord) before a fielding error by the Bald Eagles short stop allowed West Chester to stretch its lead to 4-0.
Lock Haven got a run back in the home half of the fourth with an RBI single up the middle with two outs in the inning.
Samantha Klug (East Norriton, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) and West Chester worked out of the inning after this, finishing off the fourth with a strikeout to carry a 4-1 lead into the fifth.
West Chester added another run in the sixth via an RBI single from
Madison Melvin, which plated Best, extending the lead to 5-1.
Lock Haven got one run back in the seventh but it was not enough to complete the comeback.
Kinley Gioglio got the start and took the loss for Lock Haven, working the first 3.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out a pair. Keiva Middleton entered in relief and worked the final 3.1 allowing one run on three hits while striking out four Golden Rams in the setback.
For West Chester, Klug pitched well tossing the first 6.2 scattering seven hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three in the victory before exiting in favor of
Antonia Browning (Newark, Del./Charter School of Wilmington) who got the final out to pick up the save.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Saturday afternoon at Mansfield beginning at 12 p.m.
