MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The West Liberty University softball team pounded out 11 hits and scored multiple runs in four of the first five innings here Friday in a 9-2 victory against Mercy (N.Y.) at Cassell Field on the University of Mount Olive campus.
    Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (1-7) couldn't get anything going at the plate against host Mount Olive (14-4) in the second game, dropping a 3-0 decision in the final game of the day.
    In the opener, Annie Paterson drove in two runs with a home run and a double while Riley Conkle picked up two RBIs on a homer and single to pace West Liberty's 11-hit barrage. Sidney Little doubled, singled and drove in a run and Makayla Blair added two singles for the Black and Gold.
    Riley Bennington worked the first five innings in the circle to get the win, striking out three and walking one. Taylor Bonnett finished with two strikeouts in two innings of scoreless relief.
    In the nightcap, Paterson and UMO ace Lauren King hooked up in a classic pitchers' duel. Mount Olive broke through in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Cassandra Lassiter and added an insurance tally on a wild pitch in the fifth.
    King went the distance for the win, striking out six and walking two while allowing just three hits. Kieran Johnson accounted for two of those WLU hits with a single and double.
    Paterson took the hard-luck loss, striking out 12 and walking four while surrendering just five singles.
    West Liberty will play single games against Mercy and Mount Olive again on Saturday.
  West Liberty            320 220 0 - 9  11  1
Mercy (N.Y.)             001 010 0 - 2    7  3
     WLU: Bennington wp (3SO, 1W), Bonnett (6) (2SO, 0W) and M.Blair. Paterson HR, D, 2rbi; Conkle HR, S, 2rbi; Little D, S, rbi; M.Blair 2S
     MER: Benson lp (6SO, 2W), Gonzalez (5) (1SO, 1W) and Johnston. Sisco D, S, rbi; Johnston S, rbi; Crawford D
  West Liberty            000 000 0 - 0  3  0
Mount Olive (N.C.) 000 110 x - 2  5  0
     WLU: Paterson lp (12SO, 4W) and M.Blair. Johnson D, S
     UMO: King wp (6SO, 2W) and Curcio. Lassiter 2S, rbi