The Lady Rams had a busy week after playing four double headers.
Early in the week, the Rams traveled to Bowie State University to face the Lady Bulldogs.
Sophomore Amanda Houck was on the mound in the first game for the Rams.
Senior Laura Altenburger homered in the second inning to give the Rams an early lead.
The Lady Bulldogs tied the game up in the third inning after a fielding error.
Sophomore Cat Hammer blasted a ball to the outfield which resulted in an error by the left fielder. This would score two and give the Rams a late lead heading into the seventh.
The Rams would win game one with a final score of 3-1. Altenburger, went two-for-two with one RBI and two runs scored.
Harner came in to relieve Houck in the second inning. Harner had an impressive 10 strikeout game while only allowing one hit.
After the win, the team joined together to have a talk about refocusing. They wanted to bring their energy up and pounce on the Lady Bulldogs earlier in the game. This is just what they did in game two.
With senior Katie Erb on the mound, the Rams were determined to play smarter in the field and have stronger at-bats.
After loading the bases in the first inning, the Rams did not produce any runs but immediately capitalized on Bowie State’s fielding errors.
In the top of the second, the Rams batted around their lineup.
Freshman Alyssa Herion began the inning with a double to right field. After another running reached bases on a walk, sophomore Madison Kelly reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Herion.
Junior Sarah Walasavage followed with a two-run double to left field. The Rams would go on to score three more runs off of three hits.
The fielding changes that the Lady Bulldogs made did not shake the Rams offense.
After a leadoff single from freshman Heidi McCollister, junior Monica Twardowski blasted a triple, scoring McCollister from first. Walasavage would reach bases on a throwing error, scoring Twardowski.
Leading 8-0 heading into the fourth, the Rams made offensive changes.
Both pinch hitters, sophomore Ashley Flesch and freshman Kelly Tinsman would reach bases on walks.
A fielding error would allow bases loaded for sophomore pinch hitter Lauren Scarpato. Scarpato would come up big with a two-run single.
With the bases loaded again, Walasavage would drive a grand slam ball over the center field fence.
Sophomore Lexi Trumbetti came off the bench and had two hits for the Rams.
The Rams would leave the game in five innings with a 16-0 victory over BSU.
Walasavage went 3 for 4 with seven RBIs and two runs scored. The Lady Rams produced five doubles, one triple and two home runs.
Erb would get the win, improving her record to 11-1.
The Rams began their doubleheader against Goldey-Beacom with two doubles, one from Kelly and another from Altenburger.
The Rams wouldn’t bust open their lead until the bottom of the third. Walasavage would reach bases on a bunt single. She would score on a sac fly from Altenburger.
Hammer would follow with a solo homer to right center.
The Rams would continue to produce until the bottom of the sixth when sophomore pinch hitter Haley Taylor singled through the middle, scoring the eighth and final run of the game.
Micaela McSpadden and Herion both added two hits for the Rams.
Erb would earn her 12th win of the season as she shut out the Lightening, 8-0.
In game two, the Rams waited two innings until producing any runs.
Herion would give the Rams a third inning lead with a solo homer to left center.
In the fourth, Hammer flied out to right field, scoring Walasavage. McSpadden followed with a single up the middle, scoring sophomore Sara Ercolani.
Ercolani’s next plate appearance would result in a two-run single up the middle. The Rams finished the game in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule. Walasavage and McSpadden both went 2-3 for the Rams.
The Rams defense would be a steel wall in the field, only giving up two hits.Harner would improve to 17 wins on the season.
The wins against Goldey-Beacom set a school record for the most wins in a single season (43).
On Thursday, the Rams played their final home game which was Senior Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Altenburger and Erb were both honored in a pre-game ceremony. They were escorted by parents and grandparents, surrounded by their loving team and coaching staff.
In game one against the Raiders, the Rams blasted three solo homeruns from Ercolani, Kelly and Altenburger.
In game two, Houck started on the mound for the Rams. The Rams pounced quickly after accumulating five hits and three runs in the first inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Rams were at the top of their line up again. Kelly lead off with her second hit of the game with a single to center field. Walasavage followed with a triple, scoring Kelly.
The Rams would go on to score six more that inning off of five hits.
Erb would enter the game in the fourth inning only allowing one runner to cross the plate. The Rams would finish with a final score of 10-1.
The Lady Rams traveled to Kutztown University to face the Golden Bears.It was a slow start for both teams. Kutztown produced eight hits throughout the game but errors plagued the Bears’ defense.
It wasn’t until the sixth when, with bases loaded, Herion ripped a grand slam to right field.
This would give the Rams a comfortable lead at four but they were determined to score more.
In the seventh, the Rams took a 5-0 lead after Hammer reached bases on a fielding error, scoring Ercolani.
The Bears would only score one in the bottom of the seventh with a bases loaded hit by pitch.
This win would allow WCU to be PSAC East Champions for the third year in a row. This would not stop the Rams from taking the sweep.
They went on to beat KU in the second game with a final score of 5-1. The Rams outhit KU 9-6. This win improved Houck’s record to 16-3.
The Rams head to Quakertown this week for the PSAC tournament.
Monica Twardowski is a second-year student. She can be reached at MT814571@wcupa.edu.