Mounties Drop a Pair to PSAC East Leader West Chester

MANSFIELD – Mansfield's bats struggled to get untracked against PSAC East leader West Chester as the Mountaineers dropped a doubleheader to the Golden Rams Tuesday afternoon at Helen Lutes Field.

West Chester won the opener 9-0 and captured the nightcap 5-0.

In the opener West Chester broke open a tight 2-0 with seven runs in the top of the fifth inning on their way to a 9-0 win. The Golden Rams used the long ball to inflict most of the damaging getting solo home runs with two outs in the first and third innings by Erin Whitman and Sarah Derstine respectively.

Holding a 2-0 advantage West Chester tacked on an unsurmountable seven runs in the fifth with the big blow coming on a two-run home run from Erin Quense.

Courtney Bauder and Laura Lawson each singled for Mansfield with Ashley Inman taking the loss. Freshman Sierra Storm allowed no hits or runs in working the last inning.

In the nightcap, Laura Knight got her first collegiate start in the circle for Mansfield and kept West Chester off the scoreboard for the first three before giving up three runs in the top of the fourth.

Sierra Storm had another effective outing in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two over the last 2.1 innings.

Mansfield had its best chance to score when Kaitlyn Hewitt led off the fifth with a single to left but the Mountaineers couldn't advance the runner past second base.

Brooke Harner started and picked up the win for West Chester allowing one hit over five innings and striking out five before giving way to Katie Erb. Janessa Rios and Ali Vavala each went 2-3 with an RBI to lead the offense.

Mansfield, which has played doubleheaders over three of the last four days, has a much deserved break before hosting Lock Haven this Friday starting at 2:30 p.m. at Helen Lutes Field.