Box Score

DRIFTON, PA - Marissa Leslie (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) led off the bottom of the opening inning with her first career home run and Kelly King (Nazareth/Bethlehem Catholic) struck out a career-high eight batters in the complete game victory as IUP defeated West Chester 4-1 in the opening game of the 2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the ASA of PA Jake Kislan Softball Complex.

That solo shot to lead off the game for the Crimson Hawks (25-12-1) highlighted a three-run first inning as IUP took command early.

After a 1-2-3 top of the first, which included two strikeouts from King, Leslie pulled an inside pitch over the fence in right field to put the Crimson Hawks up 1-0. That homer seemed to set the tone, as IUP got to West Chester starter Devon Utterback early.

Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) worked a walk before moving to third on a ground rule double by Megan McCormick (Evans City/Seneca Valley). A Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) walk two batters later loaded the bases and then IUP capitalized on a West Chester error as Iachini came around to score to make it 2-0. The scoring would wrap up as Ashley Strack (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) and Stefanie McCoy (New Paris/Chestnut Ridge) each walked, the later forcing home Ward from third.

IUP made it a 4-0 game in the second, as Leslie led off the inning with another walk. Iachini then sacrificed her to second with a bunt, before McCormick singled up the middle, easily scoring Leslie.

West Chester (26-24) did get two runners on in the third inning with a hit and an error, but King got the Crimson Hawks out of trouble by fanning three batters to keep them scoreless.

The Golden Rams did strike, however, in the fourth, as three of the first four batters notched singles to load the bases with just one out. A walk forced one runner home to make it a 4-1 ballgame, but after a visit to the circle, King calmed down and forced the next two batters to ground out as she got out of the jam by giving up just one run and West Chester left three runners on base.

King allowed just two hits and two base runners the rest of the way, striking out a pair in the final three innings to secure the victory for the Crimson Hawks.

West Chester tallied seven hits, including two each from Nicole Cruts and Jessica Schuck. Kate Skokowski came in for relief of Utterback, giving up one hit in 4.2 innings of work.

Leslie finished the game 2-for-3, scoring two runs to go along with her first career homer. McCormick also went 2-for-3 with an RBI as they combined for IUP's four hits of the game. However the Crimson Hawks found other ways to get on base, forcing seven walks, with two coming from McCoy, and taking advantage of two West Chester errrors.

King moves to 17-6 on the season with her 20th complete game.

With the loss, West Chester drops into the loser's bracket as the Golden Rams play in the first elimination game of the tournament today at 4:00 p.m. against Mercyhurst, which fell to Kutztown earlier today.

IUP advances to play Cal, which had the lone first round bye of the tournament. That game is also set for 4:00 p.m.