PEPPER PIKE, Ohio – Annie Paterson came within one batter of a perfect game and the West Liberty University softball team won its eighth straight in sweeping a non-conference doubleheader at Ursuline (Ohio).
    Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (17-9) handed the Arrows (5-15) back-to-back losses by scores of 4-0 and 2-0 in moving to 8-0 on their current road swing.
    Paterson got the Black and Gold off to a flying start in the opener with a dominant performance in the circle. The junior lefthander struck out 13 and didn't walk a batter in firing a one-hit shutout.
    All that stood between Paterson and perfection was a one-out bunt single off the bat of Ashley Buttolph in the bottom of the fifth. The Hilltopper ace still faced the minimum, however, as Buttolph promptly tried to steal second base and was gunned down by WLU catcher Kat Donzella.
    The Hilltoppers scored all four of their runs with two out in the top of the fifth. Run-scoring hits from Connor Assif and Donzella set the stage for Katie Beeman's two-run home run and a 4-0 West Liberty win.
    Donzella and Sidney Little each had a double and a single while Assif added two singles to the Hilltopper attack.
    Reigning MEC Pitcher of the Week Riley Bennington was nearly as dominant in Game Two as the sophomore righthander fired a four-hit shutout, striking out 11 and walking only one to complete the West Liberty sweep.
    Katie Beeman's RBI single in the top of the first provided all the support Bennington needed. Laral Saunders manufactured an insurance run in the top of the fifth. Saunders stole second and third after working a two-out walk and came sprinting home when the throw to third sailed down the left field line.
    The Black and Gold take their eight-game winning streak to Slippery Rock, Pa. on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader against The Rock.
     West Liberty                                         000 040 0 – 4  8  0
Ursuline                                                 000 000 0 – 0  1  0
     WLU: Paterson wp (13SO, 0W) and Donzella, M.Blair (7). Donzella D, S, rbi; Little D, S; Assif 2S, rbi; Beeman HR, 2rbi
     Urs: Zientek lp (3SO, 1W), McMahon (6) (0SO, 0W) and Peterson. Buttolph S
  West Liberty                                         100 010 0 – 2  4  0
Ursuline                                                  000 000 0 – 0  4  2
     WLU: Bennington (11SO, 1W) and M.Blair. Beeman 2S, rbi
     Urs: Rawlings lp (0SO, 3W), K.Jakosh (4) (1SO, 1W) and Jones, M.Jakosh (4). Hicks 2S