Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston softball team continued its late season push with a doubleheader split against Kanawha Valley rival WV State taking the opening game 3-0, before narrowly dropping the nightcap 3-2.
Pitching sensation Stefanie Rossman (Concord, OH / Riverside) tossed a gem to secure the win for the Golden Eagles with a complete-game two hit effort, while striking out nine batters. Rossman entered the week ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II in total strikeouts.
UC handed Rossman all the backup she needed with three-runs in the bottom of the fifth inning highlighted by a two-RBI double off the bat of leadoff hitter Sydney Finley (Alpharetta, GA / Chatahoochee). Charleston scored earlier in the inning as Sierra Curley (Moreno Valley,CA / Canyon Springs) crossed the plate on a Samantha Herndon (Berryville, VA / Clarke Co.) single after opening the inning with a double to leftfield.
Curley provided fireworks in the second contest by handing UC an early 1-0 lead with a lighting-shot homerun in the second inning. Rossman made the one-run lead hold for two innings before Kayla Sturms managed to catchup to a fastball and send it over the fence to spark a Yellow Jackets rally. The weeks pitching star Kelsee Blackwell (New Castle, IN / New Castle Chrysler) came on in relief of Rossman after the WVSU homerun, but fell victim herself to the hot WV State bats allowing a two-run homerun to Margaret Osborne to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage.
The Golden Eagles made a run of their own in the home-half of the sixth inning as Finley drove in freshman Kimberley Giannini (River Grove, IL / East Leyden) who had led off with a single and advanced to third on back-to-back passed balls. The UC comeback was short lived as WVSU brought back game one starter Kelsey Lorraine to douse the hot bats and retire three straight batters with the tying run on second base with the score 3-2.
Charleston returns to its friendly home confines for a doubleheader against WVIAC opponent Fairmont State on Saturday, April 16 with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.
