KUTZTOWN, Pa.- The West Chester softball team (35-14, 23-5) returned to action on Tuesday afternoon at Kutztown (25-19, 19-9) to begin the final week of the 2023 regular season. West Chester erased an early deficit to earn a 4-3 victory in game one before dropping the nightcap by a 3-0 final after a fifth-inning home run by the host Golden Bears.
Game One: WCU 4 Kutztown 3
Kutztown jumped out to an early 2-0 lead via a two-RBI single back up the middle in the bottom of the of the first inning.
This lead held up until the fifth when West Chester got a pair of runs back via an RBI single by
Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) and a run-scoring fielder's choice off the bat of
Haleigh Karcher (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson).
With the score tied at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Kutztown pulled ahead to a 3-2 lead via a sac fly to right.
West Chester was far from finished as the Golden Rams stormed back in the seventh, tying the score on a sac fly by
Hailey Melvin before Karcher came through with a clutch RBI single through the right side to score
Katelyn Rittenbaugh (Donaldson, Pa./Pine Grove) and lift West Chester to a 4-3 comeback victory.
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) who delivered one of the best starts by a Golden Ram freshman in recent memory against Kutztown earlier this year, got the start in game one and worked the first two innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three.
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) entered in relief and finished the game in the circle, working the next five innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out a pair to improve to 9-5 on the season.
Sophomore Haley Gravish got the start for Kutztown and went the distance in the circle, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits while striking out four, falling to 15-6 on the season.
Game Two: Kutztown 3 WCU 0
In stark contrast to the first game of the afternoon, the nightcap stayed scoreless through the early innings, remaining locked at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
In the home fifth, Kutztown, who had been threatening for much of the afternoon, broke through with a three-run home run to carry a three-run lead into the sixth.
West Chester threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings but Kutztown ensured it would pick up a split of the doubleheader, holding on for a 3-0 victory over the Golden Rams.
Samantha Klug (East Norriton, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) got the start and worked the first 4.2 being charged with two earned runs on seven hits while striking out one in the setback. Edwards entered in relief and allowed one run on one hit before
Antonia Browning (Newark, Del./Charter School of Wilmington) pitched the final inning, striking out one for the Golden Rams.
Sarah Harvey, who hit the game-winning home run in the fifth, scattered just three hits while walking one and striking out a pair to improve to 6-4 on the season.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action later this week against Shippensburg before hosting Shepherd for both Senior Day and the Regular Season Finale.
