Softball | 3/31/2018 6:57:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

    WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University freshman Makenzie Amend hurled her first collegiate shutout here Saturday as the Black and Gold split a doubleheader with MEC North Division-leading Fairmont State at the WLU Softball Complex.
    Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (10-10, 4-6) dropped a 4-1 decision in the opener but came back strong behind Amend in the finale to hand the Falcons (12-12, 8-2) a 4-0 setback.
    Amend had to work out of several jams as Fairmont had runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings but the former Wheeling Park all-stater proved equal to the task. She finished with four strikeouts and four walks while scattering six hits to improve to 6-2 on the season.
    Her teammates provided plenty of support at the plate with a 10-hit barrage. Allie Cook drove in two runs with a single and a double while Kelly Mullins, Katie Beeman and Katie Higginbotham each chimed in with a pair of base knocks.
    In the first game, Fairmont scored twice in the top of the first to grab a quick 2-0 lead and West Liberty couldn't battle all the way back.
    Kelsi Johnson paced a 7-hit attack for the hosts with a double and a single. Kat Donzella also had a pair of hits in a losing cause.
    The Hilltoppers step out of conference play on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Ohio Valley University.
  Fairmont State                               200 011 0 - 4  11  1
West Liberty                                    000 010 0 - 1    7  1
     FSU: Bias wp (7SO, 1W) and Baughman. Baughman 4S, 2rbi; Andersen 2S; Hormell 2S; Cook S, rbi
     WLU: Wright lp (1SO, 0W), Sieger (5) (2SO, 2W) and Troggio, McConnell (5). Johnson D, S, rbi; Donzella 2S
  Fairmont State                               000 000 0 - 0    6  3
West Liberty                                   020 101 0 - 4  10  0
     FSU: Absalom (4SO, 1W) and Worcester. Baughman 2S; Andersen D
     WLU: Amend (4SO, 4W) and Donzella. Cook D, S, 2rbi; Mullins 2S; Beeman 2S; Higginbotham 2S