West Liberty, W.Va. – After a trip south for opening weekend, the West Liberty University softball team remains on the road and in search of their first win of the season as they travel to Indiana (PA) for a Wednesday, February 21, doubleheader. The Hilltoppers and Crimson Hawks are slated for 12 and 2 p.m. first pitch times at the Ruth Podbielski Field in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

GAME DETAILS

• Location: Indiana, Pennsylvania (Ruth Podbielski Field)
• First Pitch: 12 & 2 P.M.

WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES

• West Liberty enters Wednesday's doubleheader with an 0-4 record on the season following 15-1 (5 inn.) and 11-3 (6 inn.) losses to USC Beaufort and 4-1 and 10-2 (5 inn.) losses to Mount Olive this past weekend.
• The Hilltoppers were picked to finish fourth in the North Division of the 2024 MEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll following a third place finish a year ago with a 16-38 (12-20 MEC) record.
• As a team WLU is hitting .165 with 14 hits, four doubles, five RBI, and seven runs scored through four games played this season.
• Key position players returning for West Liberty include Kayla Mancuso, who earned Second Team All-MEC honors as an outfielder, and Sydney Johnson.
• Ashlyn Tapman and Jaden Conrad are both better than .300 early on this season with batting averages of .333 and .300 respectively. The pair has each tallied a team-high three hits on the year. Conrad has posted a team-high two RBI.
• Conrad, Johnson, Carlee Leidy, and Shelby Harris have each recorded one double this season.
• On the base paths, Johnson leads WLU by going 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts during the opening weekend. As a team the Hilltoppers are 4-for-5 on stolen base attempts.
• Johnson has reached base in all four games thus far in 2024.
• The Hilltoppers' pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 8.20, allowing 34 hits and 18 walks, while throwing 12 strikeouts. Opponents hold a .321 batting average against WLU pitchers.
• In the circle the Hilltoppers return all three starting pitchers from 2023, including Tapman, Madison Angus, and Leah Alford.
• Angus' 8.2 innings pitched this past weekend were the most by the five Hilltopper pitchers who saw action in the circle. She posted a 3.23 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP while holding opponents to a .167 batting average. She pitched a complete game in Saturday's match-up with Mount Olive, allowing only two hits and two earned runs while throwing three strikeouts in the contest.
• Kadence Pettit, the 2023 MaxPreps West Virginia Player of the Year, made her West Liberty debut this past weekend, pitching 3.1 innings in two appearances with one start. She holds a 4.20 ERA and a 3.60 WHIP while holding opponents to a .391 batting average. Pettit has allowed only two earned runs this season.
• Sara Pelegreen is in her first season as the head coach at West Liberty with a record of 0-4 with the Hilltoppers. Overall, she is in her fifth season as a collegiate head softball coach and has compiled a career record of 69-134 which includes four prior seasons at Wheeling.

INDIANA (PA) STORYLINES

• Indiana (PA) enters Wednesday's doubleheader with wins by scores of 12-3 (5 inn.) and 19-8 (5 inn.) at home against Wheeling last Thursday, February 15.
• The Crimson Hawks were picked to finish sixth in the Western Division of the 2024 PSAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 26-23 (17-15 PSAC) and finishing in a tie for fifth in the Western Division.
• As a team IUP has hit .563 with 27 hits, six doubles, three triples, two homeruns, 26 RBI, and 31 runs scored through two games played this season.
• Delaney Patella, the PSAC West Freshman of the Year and First Team All-PSAC West selection, returns for Indiana (PA) after hitting .378 with 48 hits, nine doubles, nine homeruns, and 41 RBI a year ago. So far this season while only batting 1-for-2 with a double and three RBI, she has drawn five walks and scored five runs.
• Jess Cekada leads the team with a .857 batting average, hitting 6-for-7 with one double, two homeruns, five RBI, and three runs scored.
• Another batter to watch is Madison Pikula who is hitting .833, going 5-of-6 at the plate and has tallied a pair of triples. She has added two RBI and six runs scored.
• The Crimson Hawks' pitching staff has recorded an ERA of 5.60, allowing 17 hits and three walks, while throwing five strikeouts. Opponents have held a .362 batting average against IUP pitchers.
• Kendall Young has pitched the most innings among IUP pitchers, throwing 5.0 innings during the opening doubleheader. She has recorded a 4.20 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP and has held opponents to a .333 batting average.
• Elizabeth Kasper is another pitcher to watch as she has not allowed an earned run in 2.2 innings of work in the circle and has recorded a 1.50 WHIP. She has held opponents to a .182 batting average.
• Shawna Bellaud is in her sixth season as the head coach at Indiana (PA) with a record of 81-96-1 during her time with the Crimson Hawks. Overall, she is in her seventh season as a collegiate head softball coach with a career record of 103-117-1 following one prior season at St. Anselm.

SERIES HISTORY

• West Liberty and Indiana (PA) have played three times since the 2016 season with the Crimson Hawks holding a 2-1 series lead.
• The Hilltoppers won the last meeting between the teams in a 4-3 victory in Salem, Virginia, on March 10, 2018.