WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The league-leading University of Charleston softball team pounded out 24 hits Tuesday afternoon in sweeping a West Virginia Conference twinbill at the WLU Softball Complex by scores of 7-3 and 8-5.

The Golden Eagles (22-12, 10-0) opened up an early lead in the opener by scoring four runs in the top of the second and the Hilltoppers (6-29, 2-8) couldn't climb out of the hole.

Felicia Hulslander continued to swing a hot bat for West Liberty with three singles and an RBI while Maggie Starr drove in a run with a double and a single.

In the second game, Charleston broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the fifth and added two more in each of the final two frames to complete the sweep. The Hilltoppers went down with all guns blazing, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't come up with the equalizer.

Equitia Sayles and Jennifer Young each had RBI singles for the hosts.

West Liberty takes a break from WVIAC play on Wednesday with a trip to Pittsburgh for a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Point Park.

SOFTBALL

Charleston 7, West Liberty 3

Charleston 140 101 0 – 7 12  0

West Liberty 111 000 0 – 3   8  0

UC: Fultz wp (11SO, 1W) and Carlin. Vazquez 3S, 2rbi; Tretick 3S

WL: Emerich lp (2SO, 1W), Johnson (7) (1SO, 2W) and Sumner, Burke (7). Hulslander 3S, rbi; Starr D, S, rbi

Charleston 8, West Liberty 5

Charleston 010 032 2 – 8 12  3

West Liberty 100 000 4 – 5   5  2

UC: Blackwell wp (2SO, 0W), Fultz (7) (1SO, 1W) and Echelmeier. Cera 2D, S, 2rbi; Tretick D, S, 2rbi

WL: Fortuna lp (2SO, 0W), Slenski (7) (1SO, 1W) and Burke. Sayles S, rbi; Young S, rbi