WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The resurgent West Liberty University women's softball team turned in another strong performance on Wednesday, splitting a non-conference doubleheader with PSAC power Slippery Rock (Pa.) at the WLU Softball Complex.

Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers rallied for a 5-3 win in the opener before The Rock (17-5) bounced back with a 6-1 decision in the second game to salvage the split.

In the opener, West Liberty (8-23) snapped a 3-3 tie with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Leanna McMillen led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a passed ball while Kelsey Martin was waiting out a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Julianne Wanda. Martin came around to score on Angela Johnson's RBI single.

Sara Emerich scattered three hits and struck out seven while giving up only one earned run in hurling the complete-game win.

Slippery Rock put the second game out of reach quickly by scoring three runs in the top of the third and adding three more in the sixth. The Hilltoppers avoided the shutout when Kelsie Cannaday doubled to lead off the seventh and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Becky Fortuna.

West Liberty returns to WVIAC action Thursday when the Hilltoppers host West Virginia State in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

SOFTBALL

West Liberty 5, Slippery Rock 3

Slippery Rock 000 021 0 - 3 3 2

West Liberty 000 302 x - 5 3 4

SR: Ianno lp (7SO, 2W), Lobdell (6) (1SO, 0W) and Saluga. Saluga S, rbi.

WL: Emerich wp (7SO, 1W) and Sumner. Johnson S, 2rbi; Martin S, rbi; McMillen D.

Slippery Rock 6, West Liberty 1

Slippery Rock 003 300 0 - 6 9 2

West Liberty 000 000 1 - 1 4 3

SR: Grace wp (3SO, 0W), Erickson (6) (0SO, 0W) and Saluga. Croes T, S, 3rbi

WL: Johnson lp (3SO, 1W), Stanley (4) (2SO, 0W), Fortuna (6) (1SO, 0W) and Loe. Starr 2S; Cannaday D.