Potomac State roars back to claim WPCC title

A day after getting trounced 13-2 to Westmoreland, Potomac State College bounced back to take two from the Wolfpack and win the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon.

With a 5-2 win in the first game and a 9-4 victory in the second, Potomac State (20-10) took the tournament title to compliment the regular-season crown that they clinched last week.

The Catamounts trailed 4-3 in the second game before erupting for six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ashley Metcalfe came through with two RBIs in the inning, while Lindsey Twigg also had a RBI single. Metcalfe finished with a double and a single and collected her second win of the day.

Morgan Mitchell hit two singles and Brittany Wright doubled.

Twigg started on the hill but left after three innings with elbow trouble. Metcalfe relieved, allowed four runs, but settled to earn the win.

"Ashley gutted it out for us," said Jim Walton, Potomac State head coach. ýWe were planning on bringing Lindsey back in, but Ashley still had something left in the tank and was getting ground balls."

Carrie Morgollotti had two doubles for Westmoreland.

Michelle Cain drove in the go-ahead run in the first game after the two batters before her were intentionally walked. Her hit broke a 1-1 tie, and the Cats got two more runs in the innings, one on a passed ball and another on an error.

Morgan Shockey and Wright doubled for the other two hits by the Catamounts.

Metcalfe allowed a double to Nicole Derk and a single in the complete-game win.

"These two wins showed the willingness and determination of our girls," said Walton. "(Westmoreland) is a very competitive team, and is ranked sixth in the nation in Division III. After losing badly like we did on Saturday, it was quite an accomplishment for our girls to fight back."

The Catamounts host Catonsville on Saturday at noon.

PSC needs two wins to capture WPCC title

Top-seeded and regular-season champion Potomac State split two tournament games on Friday and will need to beat host Westmoreland twice today in order to win the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Tournament.

Both of Fridayýs games were reduced to five innings by the mercy rule. The Catamounts (18-10) clubbed Garrett, 18-1, then lost to second-seeded Westmoreland, 13-2.

Potomac State and Westmoreland are the only remaining teams in the double-elimination tournament, and play today at 11 a.m. If Potomac State wins, a second game will follow.

In Friday's first-round game the Catamounts scored five runs in the first inning, six in the second and seven in the third against the Lakers.

Ashley Metcalfe highlighted the big first inning with a grand slam, and finished with four hits and six runs batted in. She had a double and two singles in addition to the grand slam.

Michelle Cain hit a double and single and had three RBIs. Morgan Mitchell doubled and singled and Ashly Sites singled twice.

Metcalfe pitched the first three innings for the win and teamed with Lindsey Twigg and Sites for a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts. Metcalfe fanned seven in the first three innings and Twigg struck out the side in the only inning she worked.

Mindy Sharp had Garrett's only hit, an RBI single in the top of the first.

In the second game it was Westmoreland getting the big early lead. Four unearned runs in the first inning and a three-run second made it 7-1. The Wolfpack put it away with a six-run fifth.

Kelsey Criner went 4-for-4 with a double and three singles while Jessica Lint doubled and singled for Westmoreland. Nikkie Lindbergh allowed only two hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter in getting the win.

Lindsey Twigg smacked a solo home run in the second inning and scored on a double by Metcalfe in the fourth for Potomac State.

Westmoreland had 13 hits but only five of their runs were earned because of four Potomac State errors.