WEST CHESTER, PA –
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) hit a clutch three-run home run and then recorded the save in the opener while
Paige Marabell (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) smatched two homers in the nightcap to pace host West Chester to a doubleheader sweep over visiting Shepherd in a pivotal softball showdown on South Campus Friday afternoon.
West Chester (31-16, 17-13 PSAC East) remains alive for that fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Division. Shepherd (21-20-1, 17-12-1) dropped into fifth place as a result of their two losses to the Golden Rams – just percentage points ahead of West Chester with one more regular-season twinbill to go. Shepherd concludes the regular season Saturday at Millersville while West Chester finishes up with a doubleheader at Bloomsburg on Sunday.
In the opener, starting pitcher
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) was brilliant through 6.2 innings, allowing just one unearned run on five hits. She blanked the Rams for the first five innings before an unearned run in the fifth staked the visitors to a 1-0 lead. It looked as though she might drop a 1-0 decision for the second time in as many weeks until West Chester rallied in the sixth.
Tess Kearney (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) led off the frame with a double to center field. Following a strikeout,
Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) singled to the left side of the infield beating the throw to first. She then stole second and Ciliberto came to the plate with runners on second and third with one out.
That's when Shepherd dropped a pop up in foul territory that prolonged Ciliberto's at bat, and the junior made them pay dearly with a three-run blast to left field making it 3-1. It was one of only three hits by the Golden Rams off Shepherd's ace Madelayn Ruffner (15-4), who took a no-hitter into that ill-fated sixth inning.
Edwards (9-8) went out for the seventh inning, but gave way to Ciliberto with two outs and two runners on. Ciliberto struck out the final batter for her third save of the season sealing a 3-1 victory.
In the nightcap, Ciliberto tossed a complete-game shutout, and Marabell hit a solo homer in the second and a game-ending three-run shot in the sixth, highlighting the Golden Rams' much-needed sweep. West Chester put up one in the second, two in the third and fourth innings, before a four-run sixth sent everybody home early. Ciliberto improved to 16-6 in the circle on the year.
Casey Best (Wilmington, Del./Concord) and Ciliberto had RBI singles in the third while Melvin hit a two-run single in the fourth. Ciliberto also singled in a run in the sixth prior to Marabell's walk-off blast.
Ciliberto scattered five hits over six innings in the circle. At the dish, she went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Melvin put up the same line as Ciliberto at the plate, and Marabell was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and four RBI.
Madison Peck (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) had a pinch-hit single in the game as well.
West Chester's doubleheader at Bloomsburg, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been moved to Sunday due to the impending weather forecast. That regular-season finale, coupled with Shepherd's twinbill at Millersville, and Shippenburg's two games at Kutztown, will determine weather or not West Chester qualifies for the PSAC Tournament next week.
