BINGHAMTON, N.Y.- Following its first PSAC Tournament loss of the campaign earlier this afternoon to East Stroudsburg, the West Chester University softball team (30-24) bounced back on Thursday night with a 9-2 victory over Seton Hill (26-25) to advance to Friday at the PSAC Softball Tournament with a bounce-back win over the Griffins.

Asked about the bounce-back victory, head coach Diane Lokey acknowledged, "I was a little bit concerned about how we would come back after a tough loss in game one, but the team really responded, and I'm very proud of that response. Danielle pitched really well, and we did a great job of getting timely hits to score the runs we needed to win. I try to keep my message to the team in the postseason, especially in elimination games, simple and just let their passion and skills take over, and I think the passion and talent this team has were evident in this victory."

Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) gave West Chester an early 3-0 lead as she cleared the bases with a liner into the gap in the first inning, but Seton Hill responded with two runs of its own in the home first to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) extended the lead to 4-2 in the fourth with an RBI single before Kayla Fitzpatrick (Carle Place, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) blasted a solo shot to left to stretch the lead to 5-2.

Hopkins stretched the lead to 6-2 in the sixth with an RBI double before Ceara O'Neal (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) singled home another, and Ciliberto drove in two more to give West Chester a commanding 9-2 lead.

In addition to her three hits and four RBI, Ciliberto was excellent in the circle, allowing just two runs on four hits, while walking one and striking out 10 to help keep the 2026 season alive.

"I've just been trying to attack the zone from the start and get as many easy outs for my defense as I can, and it's been working out really well," opened Ciliberto when asked about her third PSAC Tournament victory in as many pitching appearances. Asked about her big day at the plate, Ciliberto said, "It's just been trying to not do too much and attack early in counts and make hard contact to make the defense make a play."

Lacey Lynn suffered the loss for Seton Hill, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits, while walking and striking out three in five innings of work to fall to 11-9 on the year.

Up Next

West Chester will be back in action tomorrow against IUP, beginning at 12:30, and with a win would face the loser of the Shippensburg/East Stroudsburg game for a spot in Saturday's Championship game at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.