The Lady Rams made an early exit from the double-elimination PSAC Tournament Wednesday as they lost their first two games to IUP 1-4 and Mercyhurst 6-9.
Being the third and final seed in the East Division, West Chester (28-25) had to face the three seed from the Central Division, IUP (25-12-1), in the first game of the tournament Wednesday morning. The Lady Rams dug themselves into a deep hole early allowing three runs in the bottom of the first, including a lead-off home run for the Crimson Hawks. They added another one in the second to hold a commanding 4-0 lead. The ladies had a tremendous opportunity in the fourth as they scored a run, but had a runner thrown out at home and left the bases loaded. That was as close as the Rams got as they fell 4-1 and dropped into the loser’s bracket, just one game away from elimination.
Devon Utterback (14-13) picked up the loss as she couldn’t keep the ball over the plate, and was relieved in the second. She allowed three earned runs off four hits and walked six while striking out two in her 1.1 innings pitched. Kate Skokowski relieved Utterback and went the rest of the way only giving up a single hit and walk while striking out two in four-plus innings of work. The hitting just wasn’t enough to overcome the pitching as the Crimson Hawks pitcher allowed seven hits, but all seven were singles. Catcher Nicole Cruts and third basemen Jessica Schuck each went 2 for 3 with Schuck scoring the lone run. Centerfielder Megan Kelly drew a bases loaded walk in the fourth to drive in Schuck. Schuck and shortstop Jessica Norris had great games in the field as each had a game high four assists. With the loss the Golden Rams had to wait and see who their next opponent would be as they would play the loser between Mercyhurst, the three seed out of the West, and Kutztown, the top seed out of the East.
With their backs up against the wall Wednesday afternoon the Golden Rams found themselves in an elimination game against the Lakers of Mercyhurst (25-24). West Chester jumped out in front 2-0 in the second, and although Mercyhurst pushed one across in the fourth, the Rams held onto that lead going into the seventh and final inning. The Lakers were not going to go down quietly as they scored five runs in the top half going ahead 6-2, seemingly putting the icing on the cake. Unfortunately for them, no one informed Cruts that the game was over as she hit a two-run homer as West Chester rallied to score four in the bottom half to send the game into extra innings. The score remained that way until the ninth when the Lakers scored three runs. West Chester could not rally for the second time to save their season and lost 6-9.
Skokowski pitched 6.2 innings for the Lady Rams giving up six runs off eight hits and walking four while striking out two. Utterback relieved her in the seventh and pitched the rest of the way picking up the loss after allowing two runs off three hits and two walks to go along with her two strikeouts.
Second basemen Charlotte Conaway was the only Golden Ram to have more than one hit, going 2 for 4 with two runs scored, a stolen base, and a walk. Her 38 runs scored this year led the team. Pinch-hitter Erin Whitman came off the bench and delivered with a two-run double in the seventh that finished off the Lady Ram rally. Lead-off hitter Norris went 1 for 3 with two RBIs. Cruts two-run shot in the seventh was her fifth of the year, tying her with Abby Block for the team high.
The Lady Rams overcame some inconsistency this season to put together a winning season even though they struggled in the PSAC going just 7-9. They surprisingly finished with a better record away from home going 11-7 away from West Chester versus 8-8 at home. They also went 9-10 in 19 games played at a neutral site.
The future looks promising for the Lady Rams though as they lose just two starting position players in second basemen Block and catcher Cruts, but the whole outfield returns. Junior starting pitchers Utterback and Skokowski and sophomore Kim Murl will be returning next season so experience in the circle as well as in the field will be something the Lady Rams will have plenty of next year.
Riley Wallace is a third-year student majoring in communication studies. He can be reached at RW718681@wcupa.edu.
Sat. May 4th, 2024
