West Liberty University Athletics

Late Rally Falls Short for WLU Softball

Softball | 4/2/2017 5:46:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – A seventh-inning rally came up just short for the West Liberty University softball team here Sunday as Shepherd held on to complete a sweep of their Mountain East Conference doubleheader.
Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (9-15, 3-9) came out on the short end of an 8-1 count in the opener and had the tying run cut down at the plate on the final play of a 3-2 loss to the Rams (17-10, 7-5) in the finale.
The second game was scoreless until the sixth frame as WLU's Marley Thompson carried a one-hit shutout into the bottom of the sixth only to see the hosts take advantage of two West Liberty errors to grab a 3-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers didn't go quietly, loading the bases with none out in the top of the seventh. Charlie Troggio was hit by a pitch to force in the first run and Kelsi Johnson cut the lead to 3-2 when she came home on a wild pitch.
With one out and runners on second and third, Samantha Kilbane grounded out to shortstop and the first baseman's throw home was just in time to nip the runner trying to score from third, ending the game.
West Liberty was limited to five hits in the game. Nicole Chris had the only extra-base hit with a double.
Nicki Mihalik hit a solo homer in the third inning of the first game but the Hilltoppers managed just one other single as Shepherd jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and coasted to the win.
The West Liberty women will try to rebound on Monday when they travel to Fairmont State for a 2 p.m. makeup doubleheader that was originally scheduled for Saturday.

SOFTBALL
Shepherd 8, West Liberty 1
West Liberty 001 000 0 - 1 2 1
Shepherd 130 004 x - 8 11 0
WLU: Wright lp (2SO, 1W), Sieger (2) (2SO, 3W), Hall (6) (0SO, 0W), Thompson (6) (0SO, 0W) and Troggio. Mihalik HR, rbi
SU: Munda wp (9SO, 3W), Sturgill (7) (1SO, 0W) and Weaver. Stuart 3S, 3rbi; Gilligan 3S, rbi; Konopka T, D, 4rbi

Shepherd 3, West Liberty 2
West Liberty 000 000 2 - 2 5 3
Shepherd 000 003 x - 2 9 1
WLU: Thompson lp (0SO, 0W), Bosley (6) (0SO, 0W) and Mogielski. Chris D, rbi
SU: Hanson wp (4SO, 3W), Sturgill (7) (1SO, 1W) and Taylor. Taylor D, 2S, rbi; Witt 2S, rbi

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