WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Shepherd University (12-11, 7-5 PSAC East) swept a doubleheader with West Chester (15-13, 7-5 PSAC East) in PSAC East softball action at West Chester on Friday. Shepherd gained a 2-0 win in game one and added an 8-0 victory in six innings in the nightcap.
 
The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the first inning in game one behind a solo homer off the bat of sophomore outfielder Haylee Hartman (Keedysville, Md./Boonsboro).
 
Shepherd added a run in the third as freshman infielder Hailey Putnam (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville) singled and later scored on a single by sophomore designated player Sam Colaw (Petersburg, W.Va./Petersburg).
 
Senior pitcher Natalee Harvey (St. Albans, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union/Kutztown) (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K, 4 BB) (5-3) earned the win. Junior pitcher Madelayne Ruffner (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 K, 0 BB) gained the save (3). Maci Strechay (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (2-5) took the loss.
 
Ruffner recorded the sixth save of her career to break the previous Shepherd mark of five set by Lori Sturgill (2017-19).
 
The Rams took advantage of three hits and two errors to take a 2-0 lead in the second inning in the nightcap.
 
Shepherd plated five runs in the fourth to gain a 7-0 advantage as Hartman hit a two-run blast, junior infielder Cate Russian (Manassas, Va./Colgan) smacked a two-run double, and Ruffner added a run-scoring single.
 
Harvey led off the sixth with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman infielder Hailey Putnam (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville) to cap the victory.
 
Ruffner (4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5 K, 0 BB) (5-5) picked up the win. Danielle Ciliberto (3.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB) (8-7) took the loss.
 
The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Millersville for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.