Bridgeport, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference released their Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll on Thursday afternoon, with the West Liberty University softball team picked to finish fourth in the north division, accumulating 23 points in the poll. The Hilltoppers, who ended the 2023 regular season with momentum thanks to a pair of sweeps entering the conference tournament, will begin their first season with head coach Sara Pelegreen at the helm of the program in 2024.

RETURNERS

Junior outfielder Kayla Mancuso will be the top returner for West Liberty in 2024 after earning Second Team All-MEC honors a year ago. She batted .314 and held an on-base percentage of .823 in 2023. Mancuso tallied 37 hits with eight doubles and seven RBI, while on the base paths she was 12-of-14 on stolen base attempts. Another key position player returning this season will be Sydney Johnson, who notched a .272 batting average and a .736 on-base percentage. She tallied 22 hits, six doubles, one triple, and six RBI. Johnson was also active on the base paths as she went 11-of-15 on stolen base attempts.

In the circle the Hilltoppers return all three starting pitchers from a year ago. In 16 starts and 24 total appearances, Ashlyn Tapman posted a 3-14 record as she struck out 63 batters and held opponents to a .282 batting average. She recorded a WHIP of 1.52 and an ERA of 3.76 in 95.0 innings pitched. Madison Angus and Leah Alford also return in 2024, pitching 81.0 and 68.1 innings respectively a year ago. Angus recorded a WHIP of 1.54 and an ERA of 3.80 en route to a 6-8 record in the circle. Alford, who notched a 4-7 record last season, posted an ERA of 4.30 and a WHIP of 1.64.

NEWCOMERS

Kadence Pettit, a pitcher from John Marshall High School in Moundsville, West Virginia, looks to make an immediate impact on the mound for West Liberty. The 2023 MaxPreps West Virginia Player of the Year left her mark on the Ohio Valley as she led the Monarchs to back-to-back state title game appearances and won the championship her senior season. She was a 3-time WVSSAC Class AAA All-State Selection and honoree on the state tournament team.

Isabella Caruso transfers to the hilltop after one semester with the Wheeling Cardinals and will look to find playing time as a catcher and utility player. During the final season of her prep career, the Florida native led Spruce Creek High School in batting average, fielding percentage, hits, and triples, leading the Hawks to a district championship. She was also selected to compete for the All-Star East Coast Florida Team, playing amongst the best players in the state of Florida.

NOTABLE GAMES

The Hilltoppers will play a pair of doubleheaders against teams who enter the 2024 season ranked within the top-25 of the NFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll as they welcome the Indianapolis Greyhounds to the hilltop on March 1 and will travel to Charleston on March 24. They will also travel to Lenoir-Rhyne on March 3, who received votes in the preseason poll.

• Home doubleheader against No. 11 Indianapolis on March 1
• Doubleheader at (RV) Lenoir-Rhyne on March 3
• Doubleheader at No. 20 Charleston on March 24