MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The West Liberty University softball team posted a pair of impressive wins here Saturday, taking down host Mount Olive by a 4-1 score in the first game and following that up with a 7-2 win against Mercy (N.Y.).
    In the opener, Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (3-7) scored four runs in the last two innings to break up a scoreless pitchers' duel and avenge Friday's loss to the Trojans (14-5).
    With one on and one out in the top of the sixth, Riley Conkle launched a two-run blast over the fence in left field to put WLU on top, 2-0. Katie Beeman followed with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error for a 3-0 lead.
    Mount Olive scratched out a run in the bottom of the sixth but three straight singles by Sidney Little, Conkle and Beeman plated another run for West Liberty in the top of the seventh. Makenzie Amend retired the Trojans in order in the bottom of the frame to finish off her complete-game win.
    The returning NCAA Division II All-America pitching ace was in control throughout, striking out nine Mount Olive batters without giving up a walk and holding the hosts to just five hits.
    In the second game, West Liberty took command with a 5-run rally in the bottom of the fourth and cruised past the New York squad for the second straight day.
    It was a team effort for the Black and Gold offensively and defensively.
    In the circle, Annie Paterson, Riley Bennington and Taylor Bonnett teamed up to hold Mercy to just five singles and one earned run.
    At the plate, no less than 11 Hilltoppers had at least one hit with six West Liberty hitters bringing home at least one run. Beeman led the way with two singles and an RBI. Kieran Johnson had a two-run double to highlight the 5-run fourth inning.
    West Liberty heads to Queens University in Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday for a pair of games. The Hilltoppers will take on Mountain East Conference foe Alderson Broaddus at 10 a.m. with a 12:30 p.m. game against Queens to follow.
  West Liberty            000 003 1 - 4  6  2
Mount Olive (N.C.) 000 001 0 - 1  5  2
     WLU: Amend wp (9SO, 0W) and M.Blair. Conkle HR, S, 2rbi; Beeman D, S, rbi
     UMO: Killough lp (12SO, 3W) and Burress. Lassiter S, rbi; Bryant D
  Mercy (N.Y.)             001 001 0 - 2    5  2
West Liberty            020 500 x - 7  12  1
     Mer: Karavias lp (0SO, 3W), Oquendo (4) (2SO, 2W) and Crawford. Crawford 2S
     WLU: Paterson (2SO, 0W), Bennington (4) (0SO, 4W), Bonnett (6) (1SO, 0W) and McCroskey. Beeman 2S, rbi; Johnson D, 2rbi; Little S, rbi; Conkle S, rbi; Bennington S, rbi; McCroskey S, rbi