QUAKERTOWN, Pa.- After falling victim to a late-game comeback by Bloomsburg in the first game of the afternoon, the West Chester softball team (36-17) returned to action in an elimination game against Gannon (19-27) on Wednesday evening at Veterans Park. Gannon got out to an early three-run lead in the top of the first and rode this early lead to a 9-7 victory over the Golden Rams.
West Chester got two quick outs to start the game before Gannon got runners to second and third after an error and double that dropped into shallow left and scored the first runs of the game with a two-RBI double to left center. Gannon took a 3-0 lead into the home first after an RBI single to left before West Chester worked out of the inning.
Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) started the home half of the first with a single to left, which also tied the WCU single-season hit record as it was her 85th hit of the season, matching Bri Garber's 2018 record.
Katelyn Rittenbaugh (Donaldson, Pa./Pine Grove) followed this up with a double to left, which helped the Golden Rams score their first run of the game on a wild pitch. This was the lone run that West Chester would muster in the first as the game went to the second with Gannon leading 3-1.
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) (9-7) got the start in the circle and allowed three unearned runs in the first inning before exiting in favor of
Samantha Klug (East Norriton, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy).
In the third, Gannon stretched its lead to 5-1 with a two-out, two-run home run to straightaway center.
West Chester loaded the bases with two outs in the third thanks in part to a two-out double to left by
Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest) before Gannon escaped the jam with a bases-loaded strikeout.
Gannon added another run in the fourth via a solo home run to left and followed it up with a double to right, which led to
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) entering in relief of Klug. Gannon pushed across two more runs with a one-out triple to right to make it an 8-1 lead for the Golden Knights.
In the fourth,
Madison Melvin continued to make her mark in the record books with an infield single, which allowed her to set a new single-season hit record with her 86
th of the season, but the Golden Rams were unable to bring her around to score, sending the game to the fifth with the Golden Knights leading 8-1.
Haleigh Karcher (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) started the home fifth with a double to center and was pinch run for by
Frankee DeLeo (Blakeslee, Pa./Pocono Mountain West), who scored when
Olivia Mock (Clifton, Va./Paul V) hit her second home run of the day to cut the deficit to 8-3.
Gannon answered quickly with a solo home run to left in the sixth, carrying a 9-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
West Chester continued its ill-fated comeback effort in the sixth with an RBI double by
Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca), which also helped West Chester get runners on second and third with just one out in the sixth. West Chester added another via a sac fly from Karcher, cutting the deficit to 9-5 before Gannon escaped the inning with a four-run lead heading into the seventh.
Second Team All-League honoree
Meg Wolfe (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) continued the comeback effort with a solo shot to left, cutting the deficit to 9-6, which also closed the book on Gannon starter Gabi Vasi (7-8) as the Golden Knights turned to game one starter Maggie Lenda to try and close out the game. Mock greeted the new arm with a single to left center, which
Madison Melvin, who was 4-for-5 on the afternoon followed up with a two-out single of her that own that helped West Chester cut the deficit to 9-7. Lenda ensured this is all West Chester would get as she picked up her first save of the year in a 9-7 win over the Golden Rams.
Edwards took the loss in the circle, falling to 9-7 on the year overall. Klug finished with a final line of five runs on four hits while striking out a pair in the setback over her two innings of work. Ciliberto pitched well in relief, working the next four innings, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five.
Gabi Vasi got the start and earned the win in the circle for Gannon, surrendering six runs on 11 hits while walking three and striking out five.
West Chester, who was ranked second in the latest DII softball rankings released earlier this afternoon, will now wait for the NCAA DII Softball Selection Show on Monday, May 8 at 10 a.m. to learn where and when its 2023 season will continue.
