CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team suffered a pair of walk-off losses Wednesday afternoon, falling by scores of 4-3 and 3-2 in a West Virginia Conference doubleheader at the University of Charleston.

In the opener, Coach Jim Bacca's Hilltoppers (8-24, 1-9) were down to their final out before battling back from a 3-1 deficit with two runs in the top of the seventh.

West Liberty loaded the bases with three straight two-out singles from Jamie Burke, Maggie Starr and Leanna McMillen. Felicia Hulslander was hit by a pitch, driving in the first run, and Stacy Sumner followed with an RBI single to tie the game.

Janeen Vazquez won it for the Golden Eagles (15-16, 6-4) with a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the seventh. Starr and McMillen led the WLU attack with two singles each.

Vazquez delivered the winning hit in the second game, as well, snapping a 2-2 tie with a two-out RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh.

The loss spoiled a solid pitching performance by WLU's Sara Emerich, who held UC to just four hits and two earned runs in taking the complete game loss.

Starr, Janae Cockrell and Jenn Young each had a pair of hits for the Hilltoppers while McMillen had an RBI single.

West Liberty heads to Philippi on Saturday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Alderson-Broaddus.

SOFTBALL

(One out when winning run scored)

Charleston 4, West Liberty 3

West Liberty 000 010 2 – 3  8  1

Charleston 030 000 1 – 4  6  0

WLU: Creamer lp (2SO, 1W) and Burke. Starr 2S, rbi; McMillen 2S; Sumner S, rbi

UC: Fain wp (2SO, 1W) and Carlin. Hamilton 3S; Vazquez D, rbi; Santos S, 2rbi; Tretick S, rbi

(Two out when winning run scored)

Charleston 3, West Liberty 2

West Liberty 001 100 0 – 2  8  3

Charleston 101 000 1 – 3  4  1

WLU: Emerich wp (3SO, 1W) and Sumner. Cockrell 2S, rbi; Young 2S; Starr 2S; McMillen S, rbi

UC: Aguirre wp (2SO, 1W) and Stratton. Vazquez T, S, rbi; Santos D