CHARLESTON, W.V.- The second-seeded West Chester University softball team (35-20) got its 2024 NCAA Tournament underway with a victory on Thursday afternoon as the Golden Rams used a four-run fourth inning to post a 4-0 win over seventh-seeded Gannon (31-14) at the Watt Powell Softball Annex.

"Everything we did well last week has continued into this week," started a pleased head coach, Diane Lokey. "Danielle (Ciliberto) continued to pitch well, and we played great defense behind her. We also got some key hits, and it was a different group than last week, so seeing our versatility again this afternoon was exciting."

Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) improved to 22-8 on the season, allowing just five hits (four in the first three innings, one to leadoff the seventh) over the course of her seven innings while striking out a pair to tie Devon Utterback's 22 wins in 2013 for the fifth-most wins in single-season program history.

"My mindset was really the same as it was at PSACs," opened Ciliberto. "I've been trying just to attack every batter and let the defense work behind me, and that's been working out great. The defense has been phenomenal behind me for the last two weeks, which certainly makes life a bit easier in the circle. I think as a team, we are trying to play our game regardless of who is on the other side and stick to our game plan, and that has worked out."

Gannon had runners on throughout the first three innings, but Ciliberto worked out of trouble well each time to keep the score locked at 0-0 after three innings.

On the other side, freshmen pitcher Katie Armstrong was equal to the mask, matching Ciliberto throughout the first 3.1 to keep the potent Golden Ram offense off the scoreboard early.

Eventually, West Chester got runners to second and third after a ground-rule double by Casey Best (Wilmington, Del./Concord). With the first run of the game standing on third and just one out in the fourth, Paige Marabell (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) launched her seventh home run of the year to give West Chester a commanding 3-0 lead in the fourth.

When asked about her three-run home run, Marabell said, "I saw Casey attack her pitch just before, so I knew to look for my pitch and attack when I got it."
When asked about Marabell's home run, Lokey said, "Yes, that was a great moment for her. We've been working on some things with her this week, and it seemed to work out well today. She has done a great job balancing her offense and being a freshman catcher all year, so hopefully, today can be a good confidence builder for her," finished Lokey.

Emma Zoldi (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) extended the lead to 4-0 with an RBI double into the right-center gap, plating Ciliberto, who had reached on a fielder's choice just moments earlier. With two away in the fourth after Ciliberto's fielders choice, Armstrong was able to escape the big inning without any further damage, keeping the deficit at four heading into the fifth.

With a comfortable lead, Ciliberto worked quickly in the fifth, getting another 1,2,3 inning to keep the shutout intact. Gannon countered with a scoreless inning of its own, working around a two-out baserunner to keep the deficit at four heading into the sixth.

Still trailing by four entering the bottom of the sixth, Gannon turned to its bullpen, bringing another young arm into the game in the form of Josie Spano. Spano got a quick first out on a chopper back to the circle before pinch-hitter Alexa Peterson (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) gave West Chester a one-out runner with a single to left.  Ciliberto followed this up with a five-pitch walk, keeping the pressure on the Golden Knights with just one out in the sixth. Spano got a big second out with a strikeout of Tess Kearney (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), who entered as a pinch hitter for Zoldi. Madison Melvin (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) loaded the bases moments later with yet another infield single. Gannon escaped the inning with a fly ball to left from Rittenbaugh, keeping the deficit at four heading into the seventh.

After being held without a hit since the third inning, Gannon started the seventh with a single through the left side of the Golden Ram infield. West Chester got two outs via ground balls; however, these outs allowed the Golden Knights to move their runner to third, placing the Golden Ram shutout in jeopardy. Ciliberto wrapped up her fourth complete game of the postseason with a shutout after getting a groundball to Grace Aguilar (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest) to end the game.  

When asked about her blossoming relationship with Ciliberto, Marabell said, "We've been working really well together, and we've connected well down the stretch, and I think that has really shown in our results."

Despite falling to 6-4 on the year, Armstrong pitched well in her NCAA Tournament debut, allowing four runs on six hits while walking a pair in her five innings of work. Spano was sharp in relief, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out one in a scoreless sixth inning for the Golden Rams.

With today's victory, West Chester opens the NCAA Tournament with a win for the seventh time in its 12 appearances and will square off against host Charleston at noon tomorrow after the Golden Eagles posted a 3-0 victory over another PSAC East member in Bloomsburg earlier today.

Asked about tomorrow's matchup vs. third-seeded Charleston, Lokey said, "It's the same as it has been; play our game, control what we can control, and let the results happen. We watched Charleston a bit today against Bloomsburg, so we have a general idea of what we will see tomorrow afternoon. We look at this as basically our third season; anything can and will happen, so we just need to bring our energy, play our game, and let everything else take care of itself."