Mount Olive, N.C. – The West Liberty University softball team dropped another pair of games to USC Beaufort and the hosts of Mount Olive on Sunday afternoon, falling by scores of 11-3 and 10-2 in their final games of the opening weekend. The Sand Sharks and the Trojans each used big innings to build leads against the Hilltoppers as USCB posted a 5-run inning and UMO recorded a pair of 4-run innings. WLU showed sparks with 3-run and 2-run innings of their own, however they were unable to maintain the momentum throughout the match-ups.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 3, USC Beaufort 11 (6 innings)
Team Records: West Liberty 0-3, USC Beaufort 9-2
Attendance: 85
Pitching Decision: Win: Cassie Brundage (5-1), Loss: Leah Alford (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• After West Liberty opened the game going down in order in the top of the first, USC Beaufort once again got off to a quick start with a leadoff double coming around to score and then a solo homerun to left field giving them a 2-0 lead.
• Caroline Woody was the first Hilltopper to reach base in the top of the second as she reached first on a fielding error by the Sand Sharks' shortstop. Then the next at-bat Carlee Leidy knocked a double to center field to put runners on second and third base, however they would be left stranded after a strikeout swinging ended the inning.
• After allowing a pair of singles in the first three at-bats of the bottom of the second, the Hilltopper defense shut down the frame and got the final two outs on fielder's choice plays at second base to leave a pair of USCB runners stranded.
• Sydney Johnson reached base for the third consecutive game to start the season as she drew a full count walk and stole second as WLU faced two outs. The inning came to an end with a groundout as Johnson remained on base.
• USCB extended their lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the third inning as they scored on a wild pitch and a pair of singles with WLU throwing errors that allowed two runs to cross the plate both times.
• Woody notched a 2-out single up the middle on a full count pitch to reach base for the second time in the match-up, however USC Beaufort's seventh strikeout of the game ended the top of the fourth inning.
• The Sand Sharks added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth as a single and bases loaded walk pushed the score to 9-0.
• The Hilltopper offense came to life in the top of the fifth as they plated three runs off a pair of hits. The inning started as Paytyn Tucker drew a full count walk and advanced all the way to third after two wild pitches on the ensuing at-bat, which would lead to Olivia Munoz also drawing a full count walk. A groundout by Johnson allowed Munoz to advance to second and get into scoring position as Jaden Conrad drove a 2-RBI double to right center to score Tucker and Munoz. Conrad advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI single to right field by Mallory Rosnick, making it a 9-3 ball game as the inning ended on a strikeout.
• USCB left a runner stranded in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth and WLU was unable to replicate the success of the previous inning as they went down in order in the top of the sixth.
• The Sand Sharks ended the game by run rule in the bottom of the sixth as a single to shortstop and a double to left center brought home two runs to bring the final score to 11-3.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Jaden Conrad: 1-for-3, 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Mallory Rosnick: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Carlee Leidy: 1-for-2, 1 double
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 2, Mount Olive 10 (5 innings)
Team Records: West Liberty 0-4, Mount Olive 11-2
Attendance: 85
Pitching Decision: Win: Hannah Killough (5-1), Loss: Ashlyn Tapman (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Ashlyn Tapman recorded the first hit of the contest for West Liberty in game two of the day as she singled to left center, however a fly out to center field ended the inning the next at-bat.
• Mount Olive placed a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the first with a single and a walk, but Tapman secured the final two outs of the frame by forcing a pop up and a foul out.
• A leadoff single down the left field line gave Jaden Conrad her second hit of the afternoon but the Trojans sent the next three batters down in order.
• Tapman pitched another scoreless inning to open the contest in the bottom of the second.
• The Hilltoppers saw another runner left on base in the top of the third as Olivia Munoz reached first after being hit by a pitch.
• UMO scored four runs in back-to-back innings in the bottom of the third and fourth as they tallied a triple, solo homerun, and a grand slam to take an 8-0 lead.
• After seeing their batters go down in order in the top of the fourth, the Black & Gold pushed two runs across the plate in the fifth. Shelby Harris knocked an RBI double down the left field line to score Jairika Baylor. Tapman, who reached base safely on a fielder's choice, then drove in Harris for the second run of the game for WLU to cut the deficit to 8-2.
• Mount Olive ended the game by run rule in the bottom of the fifth with a 2-RBI single up the middle to push the final score to 10-2.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Shelby Harris: 1-for-1, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Ashlyn Tapman: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 3.1 innings pitched, 3 strikeouts
Jaden Conrad: 1-for-2
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will be in action for a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday, February 21, as they travel to Indiana (PA). The Hilltoppers and Crimson Hawks are slated for first pitch times of 12 and 2 p.m. at Ruth Podbielski Field in Indiana, Pennsylvania.