WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team pounded out 25 hits here Wednesday in splitting a Mountain East Conference doubleheader with Wheeling at the WLU Softball Complex.

    Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (12-28, 8-12) came out on the short end of a 10-8 count in the first game but avenged that loss in the finale, handing the  Cardinals (7-31, 5-15) a 10-5 setback.

    In the second game, West Liberty went ahead to stay, 6-5, with a three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth before putting the game out of reach with four more runs in the sixth inning.

    Grace Swigart doubled and tripled to chase home a pair of runs while Sydney Johnson picked up two RBIs with a couple of singles. Mallory Rosnick and Makayla Blair also had two hits while Madge Weidner chipped in with a two-run double and Sara Simon had a two-run single.

    In the opener, Wheeling used an 8-run sixth inning to snap its 12-game losing streak. Trailing 8-2 coming into the frame, the Cardinals sent 13 batters to the plate and pounded out eight hits. Wheeling finished the game with 14 hits and took advantage of five WLU errors.

    After spotting the visitors an early 2-0 lead, West Liberty responded and appeared to have things well in hand before the disastrous sixth inning. The Hilltoppers got on the board with a single run in third inning before batting around to send seven runners across the plate in the bottom of the fourth.

    Kayla Mancuso led a 13-hit barrage for the hosts, going 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and an RBI. Savannah Holbrook and Sydney Johnson each smacked out a pair of singles while Caroline Woody singled and drove in two runs. Madge Weidner and Conrad contributed RBI singles.

    The West Liberty women return to the friendly confines of the WLU Softball Complex on Saturday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader with West Virginia Wesleyan.

SOFTBALL

Wheeling 10, West Liberty 8

Wheeling                   020 008 0 - 10  14  3

West Liberty             001 700 0 -   8  13  5

     WU: Holder (2SO, 0W), Clark wp (1SO, 2W) and Munoz. Hollerich 3S, 2rbi; George 3S, rbi; Munoz D, S, rbi; Stoner D, rbi; Feyh S, rbi; Sare S, rbi

     WLU: Angus (4SO, 0W), Alford lp (1SO, 1W), Perri (0SO, 0W) and Holbrook. Mancuso D, 3S, rbi; Holbrook 2S; S.Johnson 2S; Woody S, 2rbi; Conrad S, rbi; Weidner S, rbi

West Liberty 10, Wheeling 5

Wheeling                   012 200 0 -   5  11  2

West Liberty             030 304 x - 10  12  1

     WU: Brodeur (1SO, 0W), Anderson lp (0SO, 3W), Holder (0SO, 0W) and Munoz. Feyh 2S, 4rbi; Munoz D, S; Stoner S, rbi

     WLU: Perri (1SO, 0W), Tapman wp (3SO, 0W) and M.Blair. Swigart T, D, 2rbi; S.Johnson 2S, 2rbi; Rosnick 2S, rbi; M.Blair 2S; Weidner D, 2rbi; Simon S, 2rbi