STROUDSBURG, Pa.- After playing perhaps one of the longest single games in program history due to multiple rain and lightning delays throughout the day, the West Chester University softball team (32-18) is preparing for an important elimination game vs Bowie State (27-19) on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Tomorrow's forecast does not look promising for softball with a chance of rain throughout the day, a decision will be made on the status of tomorrow's game(s) tomorrow morning.
Fan Information
East Stroudsburg has launched a Championship Central page, which is available
here. Tickets will be sold on-site and will be cash only, with prices set at $10 for adults and $5 for students (with ID), children, seniors, military personnel, and first responders. For fans unable to make the trip to
Creekview Park,
live stats and live video will be available
here.
How They Got Here
Shippensburg 5 WCU 4 Box Score Recap
The weather was the leading story on Thursday as the Golden Rams and Raiders had to withstand multiple delays, including one that lasted well over two hours during the third inning of play. West Chester trailed 3-0 heading into the sixth, but
Lauryn Kane (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) tied the game with a bases-clearing double to left center as the game was tied at 3-3 heading into the seventh. Just a strike away from extra innings, Brie Wilmot lifted Shippensburg to a 4-3 win with a solo home run to left center that helped Alicia Ball finish off her 12
th win of the season. Ball went the distance for Shippensburg on Thursday, allowing just three runs on four hits and five walks, while striking out four.
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) got the start for West Chester and pitched the first five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while striking out one.
Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) suffered a tough-luck loss, her ninth of the season, after allowing just one hit, the game-winning home run in her 1.2 innings of relief.
East Stroudsburg 3 Bowie State 0 Box Score Recap
East Stroudsburg scored runs in the third, fourth, and fifth to earn a narrow 3-0 victory over Bowie State on Friday afternoon. Sarah Davenport was outstanding once again, striking out 16 in the complete-game victory while scattering four hits and three walks. Lindsay George fell to 12-9 on the year for Bowie State, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits and three walks, while striking out two in four innings of work.
About the Flock
Marabell Named All-Region
Paige Marabell earned her second postseason honor of the year on Thursday afternoon as the sophomore catcher was named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Second Team All-Region. Marabell also earned her first career All-League citation earlier this spring as the catcher was a Second Team All-PSAC East pick behind the plate at the end of an excellent sophomore season, which saw her bat .336 (50-for-149) with 13 doubles, one triple, and a team-best 12 home runs while also scoring 47 runs and scoring 18 more. She has a 1.086 OPS with a stellar .678 on-base percentage and a .408 on-base percentage with 15 walks and four hit by pitches in an excellent season at the plate. Marabell has also been a strong defensive catcher for Lokey's Golden Rams this season, posting a .995 fielding percentage with just one error and three passed balls while catching six runners attempting to steal, which is tied for sixth best in the league.
NCAA Tournament History
West Chester is making its 13
th NCAA Tournament appearance this year, entering the Tournament with a record of 33-27 and four Atlantic Regional Championships (2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021). The Golden Rams nearly returned to the Super Regionals for the first time since 2019 (Super Regionals were not played in 2021) last season in a pod hosted by Charleston (W.V.), but fell to the eventual Atlantic Region Champions twice on the final day of the opening weekend, bringing the 2024 season to a close.
Late Inning Heroics
West Chester enters play on Friday outscoring teams 71-31 in the sixth and seventh innings, including a 30-9 lead in the seventh inning. West Chester is 6-3 when tied after six innings this season and also has six wins when trailing after five complete.
Two Runs or Less
West Chester is 23-2 when holding opponents to two runs or fewer this season. Conversely, the Golden Rams are 9-16 when opponents score three or more.
On Neutral Ground
West Chester is 7-2 in neutral-site games this season, with all seven of those wins coming during the Golden Rams' Spring Break trip to Florida in mid-March.
Series Information
West Chester is 14-1 vs Bowie State and has won each of the last 11 meetings, although the two teams have not met since a 2017 sweep in West Chester. The Golden Rams are 1-0 against Bowie State in NCAA Tournament play, with that win coming in May 2008 at Kutztown.
Scouting Bowie State
Bowie State, the CIAA Champions, also finds itself one loss away from elimination heading into the day on Friday. The Bulldogs are now 27-19 on the year and are 3-6 against PSAC East foes, including a sweep of Mansfield and a split against Millersville, while being swept by Shippensburg and Bloomsburg in regular-season matchups earlier this year.
Coreena Dunham leads the Bulldogs offensively, batting an even .400 with 52 hits, including 13 doubles, three triples, and five home runs with 31 RBI and 49 runs scored on the year. George, who is one of the top pitchers for the Bulldogs, is second on the team offensively, batting .350 on the season with 28 hits, including three doubles, one triple, and two home runs.
In the circle, George is 12-9 on the year with a 3.63 ERA and .291 opponent's batting average with 102 strikeouts in 113.2 innings of work, including five complete games and two complete-game shutouts. Ryalee Dillard is another strong arm on staff for Bowie State, entering play on Friday at 10-1 on the year with a 3.08 ERA and a .262 opponent's batting average with 57 strikeouts in 75.0 innings of work, including two complete games.
What Happens If?
Following today's setback, West Chester is now just one loss away from its season coming to a close. The Golden Rams will now need to win four games to advance to the Super Regionals next weekend. With a victory against Bowie State, West Chester will advance to a second elimination game on Friday afternoon against the loser of the Shippensburg/East Stroudsburg winners bracket game on Friday morning.
