After this week, the Lady Rams, ranked 15th in the nation, extend their record to 31-3.
The Golden Rams began the week in a twinball series at Chestnut Hill College.
Sophomore Sara Ercolani got game one going with a two out single. Senior Laura Altenburger singled to score Ercolani, which gave the Rams an early lead.
At the top of the second, freshman Alyssa Herion would belt her seventh homer of the season, ending a 1-13 slump.
The Rams would not stop there. They would go on to score two more in the third.
Chestnut Hill would battle back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two.
The Golden Rams answered that in the top of the sixth when they registered four runs off of four hits.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Chestnut Hill would only be able to generate one more run to end with a final score of 8-3.
Sophomore Brooke Harner was on the mound for four innings until senior Kat Erb came in to relieve her. Both pitchers gave up three hits each.
Harner would pick up a win for this contest, improving her record to 10-0.
With this save, Erb would break two PSAC records.
Erb broke the record for most PSAC career saves with 12. This beats Shippensburg’s Kelley Tiesi (2003-2006) previous record of 11. This was not the only record Erb went on to beat this game. She also received her sixth save of the season, beating California (Pa.) pitcher Alex Salg’s previous single-season record of five that she secured last season.
In the top of the third, West Chester got the bats going. Junior Monica Twardowski started the inning with a single to left field. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, sophomore Madison Kelly singled, advancing the runner to third. Junior Sarah Walasavage would then bunt, scoring Twardowski. Ercolani would reach first on an error by the Chestnut Hill shortstop, scoring Kelly. Altenburger singled to shortstop, scoring Walasavage. The Griffins would finally stop the four hit inning.
The game would remain 3-0 until the fifth inning when the Rams scored three on three hits. Sophomore Cat Hammer came up big this inning, blasting a three run shot to left center field.
The Griffins would only add one more hit in the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, Walasavage homered over the center field fence. This was her fourth home run of the season. Sophomore Ashley Flesch and freshman Kelly Tinsman would each get pinch hit singles to help the Rams advance their lead to 10-0.
The Lady Rams shut down the Griffins in the field, ending the game in six innings.
Walasavage went 5-9, with three RBIs, two stolen bases and five runs scored. Altenburger also added three hits on the day with three RBIs.
Amanda Houck picked up her 11th win of the season, striking out 10 and only allowing two hits.
Due to the impending weather, the Golden Rams had to take conference opponent, East Stroudsburg University, a day earlier than their scheduled date. This did not seem to phase the Golden Rams.
Harner was on the mound in game one against ESU. She would give up a home run to the second batter.
The Rams soon answered when Walasavage scored on a passed ball, tying the score at one.
Two innings later, Hammer would belt her second 3-run homerun, of the week.
After a scoreless inning from the Warriors, Walasavage blasted another home run down the left field line.
The next inning, the Warriors answered the deficit. Two WCU errors and two hits would bring the score to 5-3.
After Altenburger hit a sac fly to the center fielder, the final score would end up being 6-3.
Houck would start the second contest for the Rams.
WCU would strike first when Ercolani homered to left center in the first inning.
The Rams would hold this one run lead until the third inning when the Warriors tied the score from a single.
Twardowski led off the bottom of the third with a triple to right field. Walasavage then singled to left field, scoring Twardowski. The Rams continued their hitting frenzy in the fourth inning when they racked up four hits and two more runs, bringing their lead to 4-1.
The Rams finished the game at 9-1 in the bottom of the fifth after adding five hits, one including a pinch hit double from freshman Heidi McCollister.
Ercolani went 4-7 on the day with three runs scored. Walasavage and Twardowski both went 3-5 and combined had four RBIs and four runs scored.
Saturday’s matchup against Kutztown is one to be remembered.
Kutztown came into West Chester determined to keep their 13-game winning streak alive.
After a scoreless five innings, West Chester used their small-ball game. Bollinger would bunt and reach third after a throwing error from the catcher. Twardowski then squeeze bunted to score Bollinger.
Houck would go on to give up a bases loaded walk to tie the score at one.
After the game going into extra innings, the Golden Bears decided to intentionally walk Altenburger to load the bases for junior Micaela McSpadden. Kutztown put themselves in the same position that tied them previously in the game. McSpadden would battle through the count and eventually be walked to score the winning run.
Both teams only had four hits during this game.
Harner improved her undefeated win record to 12-0.
After the thrilling finish, the Rams were determined to bounce back and have more discipline at the plate.
Ercolani would stay hot at the plate and homer in the first inning.
The Rams went on to score a whopping six runs in the second inning, bringing the score to 7-0.
In the fourth inning the pinch runner, sophomore Lexi Trumbetti, would score off of a single from Herion.
Harner was unstoppable on the mound, shutting down the KU offense. Harner only allowed three hits while striking out eight.
The Rams would stop the Golden Bears in the field and win 8-0 in five innings.
McSpadden went 3-5 on the day with one RBI and one run scored. Hammer also added two hits with two walks.
The Rams have a busy week competing in four double-headers. On Monday, April 4 at 2:30, away at Philadelphia University. Tuesday, April 5, at home against WIlmington University at 2:30, Thursday, April 7, at home against Goldey-Beacom at 2:30 and Friday, April 8 at 2:30, away at Shippensburg.
Monica Twardowski is a second-year student. They can be reached at MT814571@wcupa.edu