WILSON, N.C.- The West Chester University softball team (0-4) wrapped up its stay in North Carolina on Saturday with a pair of losses to Fairmont State (3-0) and Barton (4-3) by 9-0 and 3-2 finals. West Chester fell to Fairmont State in its first game of the day in five innings before falling to Barton in eight innings for the second day in a row.
Game One: Fairmont State 9 WCU 0 (5 Innings)
WP: Liz Alsop (1-0)
LP: Strechay (0-1)
West Chester fell behind early in its first game of the day on Saturday morning, trailing 7-0 after three innings before allowing two more runs in the fourth to fall to the Falcons by a 9-0 final in five innings.
Maci Strechay (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) suffered her first collegiate loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out in two innings of action.
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) entered in relief but did not record an out, allowing four runs on four hits before
Rhiannon Henry (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) entered and escaped the inning but finished with a final line of three runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings of work.
Alyssa Tooley (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) entered in relief and got the final out of the fourth after allowing two hits and a walk.
Delaney Haller got the start for Fairmont State and allowed three hits and a walk in 3.2 innings of work before Liz Alsop entered and allowed just two hits over the final 1.1.
Fairmont State ended the game with a 15-5 advantage in hits as the Golden Rams were shutout for the first time this spring.
Game Two: Barton 3 WCU 2 (8 Innings)
WP: Emily Bobo (1-2)
LP: Ciliberto (0-3)
Barton got out to an early lead in the nightcap, scoring the first run of the game in the first inning on a throwing error as Madison Merc got to a second on a throwing error, which also allowed Makenzie Cyz to score from third.
West Chester erased the one-run deficit quickly as
Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) laced a single into center, which plated
Ceara O'Neal (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) and
Megan Donnelly (Marlton, N.J./Camden Catholic) to give West Chester a 2-1 lead.
This advantage held up until the fourth inning when Makenzie Bur reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Caroline Bro to score as the bases were loaded with one out, tying the score at 2-2.
This tying run came after West Chester had left the bases in the top of the fourth after a Hopkins walk had loaded the bases with two outs.
In the home half of the sixth, Barton got back-to-back singles to start the inning and loaded the bases with one out before Ciliberto tight roped out of danger with a strikeout and a pop-up to keep the score locked at 2-2 heading into the seventh.
Tooley got the start for West Chester in game two and pitched the first 3.1, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, while walking five and striking out three. Ciliberto entered in relief and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk to keep things tied heading into extra innings.
Requiring extra innings for the second day in a row, West Chester was unable to score in the top of the eighth and fell to Barton in the eighth when Destany Blak hit a sinking line drive into left, which found grass and scored Keira Farmer, who had started the inning on second as a pinch runner for Savannah Ols.
Emily Bobo (1-2) was sharp for Barton throughout the day on Saturday afternoon, allowing just two runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven in the complete-game victory.
Ciliberto (0-3) suffered a tough-luck loss, pitching well over the course of four innings, scattering four hits and three walks, while striking out two and allowing just the one unearned run in the eighth inning.
Up Next
West Chester will return home and prepare for its home opener against Goldey Beacom on February 27 at 2 p.m. before hosting a doubleheader with Jefferson on Saturday, February 28 beginning at 12 p.m.
