WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Shepherd University (15-17, 8-6 PSAC East) dropped a pair of games to West Chester (24-20, 7-7 PSAC East) in PSAC East softball doubleheader action at West Chester on Friday. The Golden Rams gained a 5-4 win in game one and added a 6-5 victory in the nightcap.
West Chester took a 1-0 lead in the first inning in game one on an RBI-single by Trisha Kopinetz.
Shepherd took a 2-1 lead in the third behind a two-run homer by as junior designated player Cameron Davis (Ayden, N.C./South Central/UNC Pembroke).
West Chester tied the game in bottom of the third as Madison Melvin led off with a double and later scored when Kopinetz reached on a fielder's choice.
Graduate student infielder Leann Brown (Hume, Va./Fauquier) hit a homer in the fifth to give the Rams a 3-2 lead.
West Chester tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth on a home run by Emily Kim.
Shepherd retook the lead with a run in the top of the seventh. Davis walked and was replaced by freshman pinch-runner Lauren Alt (Petersburg, W.Va./Petersburg). Alt later scored on a ground out by sophomore utility player Olivia Reese (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial).
West Chester took advantage of one hit and two errors to plate two runs in the bottom of the seventh to gain the win. Haleigh Karcher's sacrifice fly scored Grace Aguilar with the game-winner.
Junior catcher Alex Mantz (Edinburg, Va./Central) had a 4-for-4 performance to pace the Rams.
Mary Picozzi (2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (9-7) earned the win for West Chester. Junior pitcher Katie Laing (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) (6.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 K, 4 BB) (7-5) took the loss.
The Golden Rams had a pair of three-run innings in the nightcap and held on for a 6-5 win.
Olivia Mock had an RBI-double and later scored on a double by Alexa Peterson to key a three-run second inning.
Senior third baseman Nicole Purtell (Centreville, Va./Centreville) and Davis each drove in a run for the Rams in the third to cut the lead to 3-2.
West Chester added three runs in the fifth with a two-run homer by Kopinetz keying the rally to take a 6-2 advantage.
Brown hit a three-run homer for the Rams in the seventh, but West Chester held on for the one-run win.
Senior first baseman Tori Seymour (Winchester, Va./Sherando), Alt, Davis and Purtell each had a pair of hits for the Rams.
Picozzi (3.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0 BB) (10-7) gained the win. Makenzie Edwards (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 1 BB) (5-2) earned the save. Sophomore pitcher Hannah Ruffner (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (6.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) (5-8) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Millersvillle at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
