Softball | 3/9/2020 12:05:00 AM

    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The West Liberty University softball team couldn't get the bats going here Sunday in dropping a non-conference doubleheader at Nova Southeastern.
    The Hilltoppers (6-5) suffered a 9-0 mercy rule loss in the five-inning opener and the Sharks (18-9) followed that up with a 7-2 nod in the finale.
    West Liberty couldn't solve Nova Southeastern ace Emily Hess in the first game as the hard-throwing righty faced only one batter over the minimum while fanning five in a complete-game one-hitter.
    Allie Cook broke up Hess's no-hit bid in the top of the fourth when she led off the inning with a clean single to right-centerfield. Cook was sacrificed to second but Hess retired the next two batters to end the threat.
    Cook was the only WLU player to get a hit in the second game as well, breaking up Savannah Foster's no-hitter and shutout bid in the top of the fifth with a 2-out, 2-run double to left center.
    That cut the NSU lead to 3-2 but the hosts added an insurance tally in the bottom of the fifth and put the game out of reach with three more runs in the sixth to conclude the scoring.
  West Liberty                                       000 00 - 0    1  3
Nova Southeastern                         013 5x - 9  11  0
     WLU: Bennington lp (1SO, 1W), Garcia (4) (0SO, 0W) and Donzella. Cook S
     NSU: Hess wp (5SO, 0W) and Suzuki. Lageyre 3S; Williams T, S, 3rbi; Speranza D, S, 2rbi
  West Liberty                                       000 020 0 - 2  1  2
Nova Southeastern                         030 013 x - 7  9  1
     WLU: Paterson lp (3SO, 3W), Bonnett (6) (1SO, 2W), Amend (6) (0SO, 0W) and Donzella. Cook D, 2rbi
     NSU: Foster wp (6SO, 4W) and Fernandez. Sisco 4S, 2rbi; Lageyere 2S; Speranza 2S; Maddox S, rbi