BINGHAMTON, N.Y.-Down to its last out, Gianna Liciardello (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) tied the game with one swing, launching a two-run home run before Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) launched her program-record tying 29^th career home run to lift the fifth-seeded West Chester University softball team (28-23) to a thrilling 6-4 comeback victory over fourth-seeded California (Pa.) (19-28) in the first game of the PSAC Softball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon. Originally scheduled as a 10 a.m. first pitch, Wednesday's games were delayed and did not begin until 3 p.m. West Chester will play again later this evening against PSAC East Regular Season Champion Kutztown, while California (Pa.) will return to action tomorrow morning in an elimination game.

West Chester trailed for much of the game and found itself down two with two outs in the seventh before Liciardello blasted her first home run of the season to tie the game and set the stage for Hopkins to be the hero and add her name to a three-way tie atop the Golden Rams career home run chart.

"That was a huge home run for us as a team and me personally," acknowledged Hopkins. "It got us the lead, which was the most important thing for me at the time and tying the record with that swing as well is great on top of that. We knew going into the seventh that we had to fight and Gianna (Liciardello) stepped up big and helped us keep fighting. I went up wanting to have a good at bat and everything worked out so we were able to push through with a win to start the Tournament" continued the senior captain and right fielder.
After leaving runners on in each of the first three innings, including running on second and third with two outs in the second, West Chester found itself down 1-0 heading into the fourth after a third-inning sac fly by Makayla Jerin scored the first run of the game for the fourth-seeded Vulcans.

West Chester did not trail for long as back-to-back singles by Liciardello and Holly Muni (Hamilton, N.J./Allentown), along with a wild pitch, gave West Chester runners on second and third once again with one out in the fourth. Hopkins the game with an RBI fielder's choice, the first of her four RBI on the afternoon, which evened the score at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Cal led off the home fourth with a single and got runners on second and third after a one-out error before retaking the lead on a perfectly-placed bunt, which scored a run and kept the pressure on as the throw to the plate was ruled to not be in time to try and catch pinch runner Makenzie Gillen. Another Golden Ram error allowed the Vulcans to score their third run of the game, taking a 3-1 lead with one out in the home half of the fourth. Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) worked her way out of the inning with a strikeout and a foul pop to first to keep the deficit right where it was heading into the fifth.

West Chester wasted little time loading the bases with no outs in the fifth after a walk, a Tess Kearney (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) single, and an error, but the Vulcans escaped the inning, thanks in large part to a double play to retain a 3-1 lead.

Cal carried a 3-1 advantage into the seventh, but this did not last long as Liciardello tied the game with one swing, launching a two-run home run to left before Hopkins delivered with a three-run blast to right for her program-record tying 29^th career home run, which gave West Chester a 6-3 lead heading into the home half of the seventh.

After scoring all five runs with two outs in the seventh, West Chester got a quick first out before allowing a solo home run, which cut the lead to 6-4. Cal followed this up with a single before Ciliberto rolled a double-play ball to end the game with a 6-4 victory for the Golden Rams.

Ciliberto improved to 13-9 in the victory as she allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, while walking two and striking out seven. Indyana Bolyea started for Cal and allowed a run on four hits and four walks, while striking out four in four innings before Cheyenne Beayon entered and suffered the loss, her fourth of the season, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out a pair in 2.2 innings of work.

Up Next

With this victory, West Chester advances in the Winners Bracket and will face PSAC East Regular Season Champion Kutztown later this evening at 7 p.m.