WEST CHESTER, Pa.- After returning north from a stellar 7-1 week in Florida, the West Chester University softball team (11-6) returned home on Sunday for what was initially scheduled to be its 2024 home opener vs. Pace (5-3). West Chester dropped the first game in a pitchers duel by a final of 1-0 after the visiting Setters used mid-game small ball to scratch across the lone run of the game before a fifth-inning home run for Pace lifted the visitors to a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.

In between the first and second game of the doubleheader, West Chester took time to honor its 2014 team in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Golden Rams' first Atlantic Regional Championship.
 

Game One: Pace 1 WCU 0

After three scoreless innings with just two hits between the two teams, Pace scratched across the game's first run in the fourth.

Alexa Borino started the inning with a bunt single and moved to third with aggressive baserunning on a sac bunt. Later in the frame, this paid off as she scored on a Willa Poplawski single through the left side.

Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) worked out of this inning without any further damage, keeping the score locked at 1-0.

West Chester threatened in the top of the fifth with its second hit of the afternoon, as Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) drove a double to straightaway center field to start the inning. However, Garcia worked around her leadoff runner well to keep the lead intact.

In the top of the sixth, Ciliberto found herself in a bit of a jam late in the inning. The Setters got a pair of two-out singles, but the sophomore worked out of the inning quickly to keep the deficit at one.

Giselle Garcia turned in a tremendous effort throughout the afternoon, improving to 2-1 on the year with a final line of seven innings of work, scattering just two hits and a walk while striking out 10.

Ciliberto was a tough-luck loser on Sunday afternoon as she was also outstanding, striking out eight while allowing just one run on six hits as she fell to 7-3 on the year.

Game Two: Pace 2 WCU 1

After a great pitchers' duel in game one, the second game of the afternoon got off to a similar start. Both Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J/Hammonton) and Anna Acevedo were sharp early, scattering just three hits between them through the first four innings.

In the top of the fifth, Poplawski, who was a thorn in the side of the Golden Rams throughout game one, going () at the plate with an RBI single in the victory, worked a leadoff walk and made her way to second quickly on a sac bunt. Garcia, who turned in a dominant game one performance in the circle, drove a 1-1 offering over the left field fence to give the Setters a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Acevedo (2-0) worked the first five innings to earn her second victory of the year, allowing just two hits and four walks while striking out a pair.

Alyssa Smart relieved Acevedo in the sixth and pitched a scoreless sixth inning, forcing West Chester to look forward to the seventh if a comeback was to occur.

In the top of the seventh, Pace got a pair of runners on with one out as the Setters looked to add a late insurance run. Edwards worked well to keep the guests off the board, keeping the deficit at 2-0 heading into the home seventh.

Faced with the six, seven, and eight hitters of the Golden Ram lineup, Smart got the first out of the inning quickly before an infield single by Casey Best (Wilmington, Del./Concord) gave the Purple and Gold late life. Ciliberto returned to the game as a pinch hitter for Katelyn Rittenbaugh (Donaldson, Pa./Pine Grove) and nearly tied the game with just one swing, driving a double off the top of the left field wall, giving the Golden Rams runners on second and third with two outs. Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J/Seneca) followed this up with an RBI infield single, which led to a full-nine mound visit for the Setters. Melvin swiped second with runners on the corners and two outs, getting herself into scoring position with just one strike on younger sister Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca). Melvin found herself in a 0-2 hole to start the at-bat and battled back, but a stellar defensive play by Pace helped the visitors escape with a 2-1 victory. Smart allowed just one run over her two innings of work, earning her first save of the season.

Despite suffering her first loss of the season, Edwards was outstanding in the circle on Sunday as well, going the distance, allowing just two runs on two hits while walking three and striking out six as she fell to 3-1 on the year.

Up Next:

West Chester returns to action on Tuesday against Millersville in its PSAC East opener beginning at 2 p.m.