Thursday, April 5, 2012

WAYNESBURG, Pa. - The Westminster College softball team extended its win streak to 10 games after a sweep at Waynesburg. The Lady Titans won the first game 12-1 and the second game 10-3.

The Lady Titans improved to 14-10 overall and to 6-0 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The Yellow Jackets dropped to 11-14 on the year and 0-6 in the PAC.

In game one, Westminster wasted no time as they scored three runs in the first inning. Junior shortstop Katie Hughes (Boardman, OH / Cardinal Mooney) singled in junior Catcher Olet Stasko (McDonald, PA / West Allegheny) for the first run of the game. Sophomore first baseman Lauren Stocyznski (Erie, PA / Harbor Creek) then had a two RBI single to right field.

The Lady Titans scored two more runs in the second inning. Senior's Julie Norris (Sharon, PA / Sharon) and Erica Kimmick (Parma, OH / Cuyahoga Heights) each had a sacrifice fly in the frame.

Westminster added two more runs in the third inning as junior designated hitter Layne Carpenter (Marietta, OH / Marietta) homered to left field. Later in the inning, junior Chelsea Brown (New Castle, PA / Mohawk) doubled to score junior outfielder Brittany Gamble (Poland, OH / Poland Seminary).

The Lady Titans scored five more runs in the fifth inning as they batted around the lineup. Westminster finished with 15 hits in the first contest. Brown, Carpenter, and Hughes had three hits apiece.

Chelsea Brown (10-4) earned the win for Westminster. She pitched a complete game six innings with six strikeouts and only gave up one earned run.

In the second game, the Yellow Jackets struck first as they scored a run in the second inning. The Lady Titans responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning as sophomore second baseman Kelsey Squelch (Pittsburgh, PA / Perry Traditional) singled in sophomore outfielder Katy Balko (New Stanton, PA / Hempfield).

Westminster scored nine runs in the fifth inning. Chelsea Brown had a three RBI double, Kelsey Squelch hit her first career homerun, which plated three runs, and Katie Hughes hit a two-run homerun. Squelch and Hughes each finished with two hits apiece to led the Lady Titans.

Freshman Carly Leffakis (Pittsburgh, PA / North Catholic) (2-1) earned the win in the nightcap, she pitched an inning of relief and had one strikeout. Freshman Carly Wallock (DuBois, PA / DuBois) pitched the first four innings of the contest, only giving up one earned run.

Westminster looks to build on the impressive wins on Tuesday as they travel to Penn State-Behrend, first pitch scheduled for 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.