WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Philadelphia University softball team was swept by host West Chester in a non-conference doubleheader, 2-1 and 7-1, Wednesday afternoon.

GAME ONE
Philadelphia (5-9) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI single by starting pitcher Kasia Smith (Waddell, Ariz./Estrella Foothills). Smith brought home shortstop Stephanie Martin (Hanover, Md./Seton Keough) who reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on a single by designated player Samantha Abromavage (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp.).

The score remained 1-0 until the home half of the fourth when third baseman Laura Altenburger delivered a one-out base hit to plate pinch runner Shannon Gray—who came in for designated player Micaela McSpadden—to tie the game.

Two innings later, Altenburger put West Chester (18-6) in front with a solo home run to left center field off of Abromavage, who came in to pitch in relief of Smith in the fifth.

After giving up the early run on two hits in the first, Amanda Houck held Philadelphia to just three hits and struck out five to earn the complete game win. Abromavage took the loss, striking out one and allowing one run on three hits in two innings. Smith fanned one over four innings.

Catcher Erin Quense and Altenburger both had two hits for the Golden Rams.

GAME TWO
Shannon Weaver (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) wasted little time giving the Rams a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left in the first at-bat of the game.

West Chester answered the back with a four-run second inning to grab a 4-1 lead. Sarah Walasavage put the Golden Rams in front with a two-run single to plate Madison Kelly and Cat Hammer. Erin Whitman and McSpadden added two-out RBI base hits for insurance runs.

Sarah Derstine added to the West Chester with a fourth-inning RBI infield single to make the score 5-1. Hammer led off the fifth with a solo home run and Haley Bollinger produced a RBI single three batters later two make the score 7-1. The game was called immediately after Bollinger's hit.

Hammer was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Walasavage went 2-for-2 and knocked in two runs. Six different players had one hit for Philadelphia.

Brooke Harner was the winning pitcher after striking out three and allowed just the one run on five hits. Nicole Troisi (Norristown, Pa/Pope John Paul II) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits and fanned three in three innings.

Philadelphia heads to Wilmington (Del.) for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader on Thursday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m.