WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The West Chester University softball team (19-12, 8-6) returned to action on Saturday afternoon at home against Shepherd (16-16, 6-8) in the midst of a busy weekend, which will see the Golden Rams play three doubleheaders in three days. West Chester used an offensive explosion in the middle innings to earn an 8-2 victory in game one before falling by a 5-0 final in the nightcap after a tremendous pitching performance by Shepherd rookie Madalyne Ruffner.
After falling victim to the home run ball at Shippensburg on Friday afternoon, West Chester clubbed three in the game-one victory as
Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) hit a pair to go along with a solo shot by
Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest). For the second time in a week,
Alexa Peterson (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) also delivered a big hit as a pinch hitter in game one, picking up a two-RBI single in the fourth, which broke a 2-2 tie.
Game One: WCU 8 Shepherd 2
Hopkins hit her first home run of the day in the home half of the first, a two-run shot to left that scored
Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca), who had singled to start the inning.
Shepherd countered with two runs of its own in the top of the second to even the score at 2-2.
This is how the game remained until the fourth inning when
Alexa Peterson (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) came through with another clutch hit as a pinch hitter, lacing a two-RBI single through the right side to give the Golden Rams a 4-2 lead.
West Chester extended its lead in the fifth with back-to-back solo home runs by
Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest) and Hopkins, carrying a 6-2 lead into the sixth. In the home sixth, West Chester tacked on two more runs, using an RBI double by
Tess Kearney (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and an RBI single by
Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) to take an 8-2 lead.
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) (11-6) earned the victory in the circle, entering in relief of
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) and working 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out nine.
Edwards got the start and lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out a pair.
Hannah Ruffner (2-5) took the loss for Shepherd, allowing four runs on four hits and a pair of walks while striking out two in 3.2 innings of work. Madalyne Ruffner entered in relief and worked an inning, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two. Abby McBride entered in relief and finished the game in the circle for the Rams, also allowing two runs on three hits and a walk.
Game Two: Shepherd 5 WCU 0
After a pair of walks, Shepherd took its first lead of the day with a towering three-run home run to left center, making the score 3-0 heading into the home first.
West Chester threatened to cut into the lead in the fourth and fifth but left a pair of runners on base in each inning to keep the score locked at 3-0.
Shepherd tacked on two runs in the sixth with a pair of solo home runs, which closed the book on Edwards (7-4) after 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out five.
Ciliberto entered in relief and quickly got the third out on a bunt back to the circle to get West Chester out of the inning without any further damage.
Mary Picozzi (Collegeville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) entered for the seventh and pitched 1,2,3 seventh, including a strikeout for the second of her three outs.
After yielding back-to-back solo home runs in game one, Madalyne Ruffner was outstanding in the nightcap. She improved to 12-1 on the year with a masterful complete-game shutout, surrendering just four hits and one walk while striking out 12.
Up Next:
West Chester will be back in action tomorrow at Kutztown beginning at 1 p.m. as the Golden Rams continue their PSAC East gauntlet.
