WHEELING, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team got its West Virginia Conference schedule off to a flying start Wednesday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep against Wheeling Jesuit at the I-470 Complex.

Coach Jim Bacca's Hilltoppers (6-21, 2-0) eked out a 2-1 win in the opener before rolling to an 8-0 “mercy rule” romp in the second game.

Former Wheeling Park standout Angela Johnson led West Liberty in the first game, entering the circle in relief of starter Sara Emerich trailing 1-0 with none out and one on in the bottom of the second and blanking the Cardinals (11-14, 0-2) on just two hits the rest of the way.

Julianne Wanda pulled the visitors even with an RBI double in the fourth and the Hilltoppers manufactured what turned out to be the game-winning tally in the top of the fifth.

Leanne McMillen kept the fifth inning alive by working a two-out walk and promptly put herself in scoring position by swiping second. Felcia Hulslander came through with a base hit and McMillen sprinted home with the tie-breaking run.

Hulslander led the West Liberty attack with a pair of base hits while Johnson finished with a strikeout and just two walks over the final six innings.

The Hilltoppers eliminated any suspense early on in the second game as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead after just two innings.

That was more than enough for Becky Fortuna, who scattered five singles among five different Cardinal batters while striking out three and walking only one.

Maggie Starr was the hitting star for the Black and Gold, driving in three runs with a triple and a double. Irene Fadul bashed out a pair of singles while Jennifer Young added an RBI base knock.

West Liberty hosts West Virginia State Wednesday at 2 p.m.

SOFTBALL

West Liberty 2, Wheeling Jesuit 1

West Liberty 000 110 0 – 2  6  3

Wheeling Jesuit 100 000 0 – 1  3  0

WL: Emerich (0SO, 3W), Johnson wp (2) (1SO, 2W) and Sumner. Hulslander 2S, rbi; Wanda D, rbi

WJ: Hinz lp (2SO, 4W), Jusko (5) (3SO, 0W) and Ice. 

West Liberty 8, Wheeling Jesuit 0

West Liberty 220 004 – 8  7  0

Wheeling Jesuit 000 000 – 0  5  5

WL: Fortuna wp (3SO, 1W) and Burke. Starr T, D, 3rbi; Fadul 2S; Young S, rbi

WJ: Nichols lp (5SO, 1W) and Schrock.