DRIFTON, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University softball team earned its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference postseason win today as they outlasted West Chester University 9-6 in nine innings at the ASA of PA Jake Kislan Softball Complex. 

With the win the Lakers improve to 25-24 overall this season tying the 2008 Mercyhurst team for most wins in a single season in school history.  The loss ends the Golden Rams run at a PSAC title as they hold a 28-25 overall record.
Freshman Shania Bunker hit a towering fly ball in the top of the ninth inning that cleared the center field fence which would prove to be the eventual game winning run.  Bunker went 3-5 driving in two runs and scoring twice.  Like Bunker, senior Jen Bower scored twice while driving in two, she went 2-4 for the game.  Senior Samantha Eimers, senior Andrea Sauers, junior Megan Smith and sophomore Courtney Smith all tallied an RBI in the contest.  In a 2-4 showing, Eimers also scored twice as teammates Kristen Fyffe, Julie Harmon and Sauers all crossed the plate once in today's win.

West Chester erased senior pitcher Kristi Janoske's clean sheet in the second inning after a two-run single scored runners from second and third giving the Golden Rams an early 2-0 lead. 

Mercyhurst cut the lead in half after Eimers led the fourth inning off with an opposite field homer, her 10th of the season.

The Lakers went into the seventh inning down by one run and their season on the line.  Sauers led the inning off with a walk before junior Amanda Walker used a sac bunt advancing her into scoring position.  Courtney Smith then entered the box, pinch hitting for freshman Lauren Rossi and delivered in the clutch singling up the middle to knot the game at two runs apiece. 

Mercyhurst wasn't done scoring there as later in the inning Bunker drove a ball to center field for a ground rule double scoring Eimers who drew a walk earlier in the inning.  Bower followed Bunker with a line drive double down the leftfield line scoring both Bunker and Fyffe.  Megan Smith got into the hitting act with a single that scored Bower. 
All told for the inning, the Lakers scored five runs on four hits.

The Golden Rams put together their own rally in the bottom of the seventh pushing four runs across the plate to send the game into extra-innings.

Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth inning pushing the game into the ninth.

In the top of the ninth inning the Lakers leadoff batter was retired giving them just two outs to work with.  Bunker stepped into the box next, sending her fifth homer of the season over the centerfield fence breaking the 6-6 tie.  With two outs and Bower sitting in scoring position after a walk and pass ball, Sauers singled into left field scoring her from second.  Harmon would end the scoring after beating the pitcher to home plate on a pass ball.

Junior Megan Hopton earned the win after retiring three consecutive batters in the bottom of the ninth, helping the Lakers earn their first PSAC postseason victory in school history.  Hopton pitched two and two-thirds innings allowing just three hits and two runs while striking out two.  Janoske started the game for the Lakers pitching three innings, giving up five hits and two runs.  Freshman Annie Truelove entered the game in relief for Janoske pitching three and one-thirds innings.  Truelove also allowed two runs while giving up just two hits.

Devon Utterback of West Chester was credited with the loss after giving up three runs on three hits.  Kate Skokowski started the game for the Golden Rams pitching six and two-thirds innings.  Skokowski gave up six runs on eight hits.
The Lakers are now set to match up against cross-town rival Gannon University tomorrow, April 26 at 10 a.m.  This season the Golden Knights hold a 3-1 series lead on the Lakers.  The winner of the game will face the loser of game 10 at 4 p.m. tomorrow.  The loser of the game will be eliminated from the tournament and sent back to Erie, Pa.

Live stats can be followed for tomorrow's game by clicking here.