Saturday, April 14, 2012

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College softball team took two games from the Chatham Cougars on Saturday. The Lady Titans won the first game 6-3 and the second game 7-4.

Westminster improved to 17-11 overall and to 9-1 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), while Chatham dropped to 8-18 on the season and 0-8 in conference play.

In game one, Chatham scored a run in the first inning and held that lead until the fourth when Westminster scored three runs. Senior Julie Norris (Sharon, PA / Sharon) pinch hit and singled to score sophomore outfielder Katy Balko (New Stanton, PA / Hempfield). Sophomore first baseman Lauren Stocyznski (Erie, PA / Harbor Creek) then had a two run single to put the Lady Titans up 3-1.

In the fifth inning, Westminster tacked on two more runs as junior designated hitter Layne Carpenter (Marietta, OH / Marietta) singled to left center to plate junior shortstop Katie Hughes (Boardman, OH / Cardinal Mooney) and sophomore second baseman Kelsey Squelch (Pittsburgh, PA / Perry Traditional). Chatham answered with two runs in the bottom half to make it 5-3.

Westminster scored an insurance run in the sixth inning as Kelsey Squelch scored on an error. She led the Lady Titans with two hits and two runs scored.

Junior pitcher Chelsea Brown (New Castle, PA / Mohawk) (11-4) earned the win. She pitched a complete game and had 13 strikeouts, two shy of her career high.

In game two, the Lady Titans struck first as senior third baseman Erica Kimmick (Parma, OH / Cuyahoga Heights) had a sacrifice fly to score Kelsey Squelch.

Westminster tacked on more runs in the second inning as freshman outfielder Carly Wallock (DuBois, PA / DuBois) hit a two run homerun to left center. Chatham responded with four runs in the bottom half to lead 4-2.

The Lady Titans took the lead in the fourth inning as Wallock tripled to score junior outfielder Brittany Gamble (Poland, OH / Poland Seminary) and Layne Carpenter. Westminster scored a run in both the sixth and seventh inning.

Kelsey Squelch had four hits for the Lady Titans, junior catcher Olet Stasko (McDonald, PA / West Allegheny), Wallock, and Gamble had three hits apiece. Wallock finished with four RBI.

Freshman Carly Leffakis (Pittsburgh, PA / North Catholic) started the game and pitched 1.2 innings. Chelsea Brown (12-4) pitched the final 5.1 innings, earning the win, she had four strikeouts.

Westminster will play two games at Pitt-Greensburg on Monday, 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.