INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team split a doubleheader with West Virginia State here Sunday in an early-season showdown between Mountain East Conference division leaders at Lady Jacket Field.
    Coach Herb Minch's North Division-leading Hilltoppers (13-10, 7-1) rallied for a 5-4 win in the opener but the South Division-leading Yellow Jackets (13-6, 6-2) were able to pull out a 7-4 decision in the second contest.
    In the first game, Sydney Bennington's 2-out RBI double snapped a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh and Anna Patterson retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame to finish off West Liberty's 10th straight win.
    The Hilltoppers rallied from a 3-0 deficit with a 4-run uprising in the top of the fifth. Kat Donzella's MEC-leading 9th home run of the season – a 3-run blast – keyed the rally. The Yellow Jackets tied the game with a single tally in the bottom of the sixth, setting the stage for WLU's game-winning rally in the seventh.
    Donzella had a single to go along with her 3-run homer while Bennington and Allie Cook each finished with a single, double and RBI. Haley Collett and Patterson also doubled for the visitors.
    Patterson pitched the final four innings to get the win. The freshman hurler allowed 5 hits but gave up only 2 runs – one earned – while striking out 5 and issuing only one walk.
    West Virginia State took advantage of some shaky WLU defense to snap the Black and Gold's winning streak in the finale.
    The Yellow Jackets plated two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to snap a 3-3 tie and added two more unearned runs in the sixth to seal the nod.
    Sydney Bennington drove in two runs with a single and a double while Katie Beeman added an RBI single for the Hilltoppers.
    The West Liberty women return home to host Ursuline (Ohio) in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at the WLU Softball Complex.