CHARLESTON, W. VA.—No. 3 seeded and No. 9 nationally ranked University of Charleston Softball dropped Game Three of the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament 2-1 to No. 2 seeded West Chester University (36-20). However, they came back to defeat No. 7 seeded Gannon University (32-15) 4-0 in Game Five to advance to Championship Saturday. 
 
The Basics:
Location: UC Softball Field
Score: vs. West Chester: 2-1 (L), vs. Gannon: 4-0 (W)
 
How it Happened:
Game One vs. West Chester: 2-1 (L)
After UC went down in order to start the game, West Chester's lead off hitter singled on a slow roller to second and advanced to second base on a muffed throw. From there, she went on to advance to third on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a single to left field before Brianna McCown (31-4) got out of the inning on a strikeout and fly out to right field. 
 
McCown held the Golden Rams scoreless until they broke through Charleston's defense again in the third inning on four straight one-out singles to make the score 2-0. The Golden Eagles got out of it on a strikeout and fielder's choice. 
 
Both teams were scoreless through the fourth inning, however UC was finally able to plate a run in the fifth inning. With one out the MEC Player of the Year, Hannah Rose, singled to right field. Isabella Andujar then stepped up to the plate and reached first safely on a fielder's choice, as the speedy Rose beat out the throw to second to put a runner in scoring position for UC. The following play, Rose got out at third though after the Golden Eagles hit into another fielder's choice. A single to left field by Lindsey Phares plated Charleston's first and only run of the game before the Golden Rams closed out the inning on an unassisted ground out to first.
 
UC was unable to get the bats going, resulting in the 2-1 loss to West Chester to send them to the loser's bracket. Brianna McCown (31-4) was credited with the loss after allowing two runs to score on seven hits in 3.1 innings pitched.
 
Game Two vs. Gannon: 4-0 (W)
The Golden Eagles bounced back in their second game of the day, defeating the Golden Knights 4-0 on nine hits. Three of Charleston's four runs came via the long ball off the bats of Hannah Meyer, Raegan West and Allysa Lake. Meyer and West hit their homers back-to-back in the second inning, while Lake's bomb came in the third inning. UC's final run of the game was plated in the fifth inning after Rose led off the inning with a bunt single. She proceeded to swipe second and third before she scored on a Andujar single to the shortstop. 
 
After relieving teammate McCown in the first game of the day, Junior Chloe Elliott (10-0) continued her lights out pitching into the second game. The Seton Hill transfer struck out eight Golden Knights and allowed just four hits to secure the victory. 
 
Up Next:
Charleston heads into Championship Saturday looking for revenge. They will need to defeat West Chester twice to punch their ticket to the Atlantic Super Regional. Last season, UC lost the first game of the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament before coming from behind to defeat Shippensburg twice to advance to supers. 
 
Due to the weather forecast, first pitch has been moved up to noon.