Friday, March 23, 2012

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College softball team played a doubleheader against Penn State Altoona on Friday. The Lady Titans won the first game 2-1 and lost the nightcap 5-4, with both games going into extra innings. The Lady Titans go to 4-10 on the season, while the Lions are now at 14-2.

In game one, the Lady Titans had 10 hits which paced them to the victory in eight innings. Westminster scored its first run in the second inning. Junior outfielder Brittany Gamble (Poland, OH / Poland Seminary) got on base with a walk, sophomore outfielder Erica Pamer (Beaver Falls, PA / Beaver Falls) then singled. Sophomore second baseman Kelsey Squelch (Pittsburgh, PA / Perry Traditional) then doubled to score Gamble.

The Lions answered back in their half of the sixth inning as a single and two passed balls led to a run. The Lady Titans threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Pamer led off with a single, but she was not able to score despite advancing to third during the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, junior shortstop Katie Hughes (Boardman, OH / Cardinal Mooney) led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman designated hitter Carly Wallock (DuBois, PA / DuBois). Senior third baseman Erica Kimmick (Parma, OH / Cuyahoga Heights) got the game winning single as she drove in Hughes. 

Squelch, Hughes, and Wallock each had two hits apiece. Junior pitcher Chelsea Brown (New Castle, PA / Mohawk) (3-4) earned the win for the Lady Titans. She pitched a complete game, striking out five batters, and giving up no earned runs.

In the nightcap, Altoona struck first with a run in the first inning. Westminster scored two runs off four hits in the second inning to lead 2-1. The Lions scored three more runs in the third inning and held that lead until the Lady Titans responded with two runs in the fifth inning.

The second game also headed to an extra frame. In the top of the eighth inning, after a failed pickoff attempt, designated hitter Lily Glunt was called safe at third. The Lions eventually scored to lead 5-4. The Lady Titans again threatened in their half of the inning, but they did not score.

Five different Lady Titans recorded a hit in the second game, and Katie Hughes had a team-high two RBI. Freshman Carly Leffakis (Pittsburgh, PA / North Catholic) started on the hill for Westminster and pitched three innings. Carly Wallock closed out the final five innings and had four strikeouts.

Westminster will play at home on Monday versus Pitt-Bradford at 3:30pm.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College ranks first in the nation as "Best College for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," according to Forbes.com. Westminster, a top-tier liberal arts college, ranks third in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster ranked 6th among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 376 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 42 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.