MELBOURNE, Fl.- After a well-deserved off day on Monday, the West Chester University softball team (9-4) returned to action on Tuesday for a split doubleheader against Molloy and Post. West Chester picked up a 3-1 victory in its first game of the game over Molloy before defeating Post 8-0 in five innings behind a no-hit performance in the circle from Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon).

While Ciliberto became the 13^th Golden Ram pitcher to throw a complete-game no-hitter and the first since Makenzie Edwards (Atco, N.J./Hammonton), Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) continued her historic career as she broke the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference career steals record. Melvin entered the day with 138 career steals, just two shy of the record held by Lori Erie of Kutztown and took care of this record quickly, moving within one of the record in the victory over Molloy before swiping four in the win over Post to break the record, which had stood since 1995.

Game One: WCU 3 Molloy 1

Edwards picked up the game-one victory in the circle for West Chester, tossing 6.1 solid innings, scattering just three hits and one run while walking one and striking out a pair for her second victory (2-0) of the Spring. Ciliberto entered in relief and picked up the seven-pitch, two-out save to seal the victory.

West Chester got out to an early lead in its first game of the day. Hailey Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) plated her older sister with an RBI single to right before scoring off an RBI double by Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) moments later to give West Chester a 2-0 lead heading into the second.

In the third, Hopkins picked up her second hit and second RBI of the afternoon with a single to left, which scored Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest) and gave the Golden Rams a commanding 3-0 lead.

Molloy showed its fight in the bottom of the seventh, scraping across its first and eventually only run of the game, an RBI groundout to second. This cut the WCU lead to 3-1 while keeping runners on second and third with two outs. Ciliberto ended the threat with another grounder to second, which Rittenbaugh gobbled up to close out the victory.

Game Two: WCU 8 Post 0 (5 Innings)

West Chester jumped out to an early lead in the nightcap, taking a three-run lead in the first thanks to an RBI sac fly from Aguilar, another RBI single from Hopkins, and an RBI double from Alexa Peterson (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan).

West Chester continued its offensive explosion in the second, stretching its lead to 4-0. Melvin continued her run through the PSAC record book with a steal of third. After an errant throw, she popped up quickly and scampered home to extend the lead.

Emma Zoldi (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock South) extended the lead one run further in the third with an RBI single down the left field line, making the score 4-0 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, Aguilar picked up her second RBI of the afternoon with a bunt single to score Melvin, and West Chester tacked on two more after a costly fielding error on a hard-hit ground ball to short off the bat of Lauryn Kane (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) and an RBI single by Peterson to take an 8-0 lead.

Ciliberto was on throughout the afternoon as Post managed to get just one runner against the Golden Rams sophomore hurler, with that lone runner being the first batter of the game. After this early runner, Ciliberto settled in quickly and worked five stellar innings without allowing a hit or walk to lift West Chester to the 8-0 victory.

Maddison Caldwell got the start for Post and went the distance, battling against the potent Golden Ram offense as she allowed eight runs (four earned) on eight hits while walking one and striking out a pair.

Up Next:

West Chester will look to conclude its stay in Florida with a pair of victories tomorrow as the Golden Rams take on Illinois-Springfield in a doubleheader beginning at 9 a.m.