West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team kept their momentum rolling as they remained unbeaten in Mountain East Conference play, improving to 4-0, with a sweep of Ohio County rival Wheeling by scores of 8-4 and 6-0. The Hilltoppers used both facets of the game to earn the doubleheader sweep as game one featured a season-high 18 hits and game two was highlighted by the first shutout of the year as they posted their sixth consecutive win.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 8, Wheeling 4
Team Records: West Liberty 8-13 (3-0 MEC), Wheeling 4-21 (0-3 MEC)
Attendance: 55
Pitching Decision: Win: Madison Angus (1-3), Loss: Ryleigh Peters (2-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty struck first in the bottom of the first as Mallory Rosnick connected on a double to left field which scored Sydney Johnson who reached base by way of her own double up the middle earlier in the inning. Two at-bats later Shelby Harris singled up the middle to score Sara Simon to make it a 2-0 ball game.
• As Madison Angus and the Hilltopper defense held Wheeling to just one hit and no runs through two innings, WLU extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second with three runs off five hits. Johnson brought home Carlee Leidy with a single through the left side and two at-bats later Simon also hit a single through the left side to score Kayla Mancuso. Later in the inning Jaden Conrad singled up the middle to score Olivia Munoz, who pinch ran for Simon, to make it 5-0.
• The Cardinals broke through on the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the third on an error to cut the lead to 5-2.
• WLU got one run back in the bottom of the third as Breena Grace knocked a double to right field, but was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a triple, however Isabella Caruso was able to come around from first and score to make it a 6-2 contest.
• West Liberty scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to once again extend their lead as Rocnick singled through the right side to score Mancuso who reached base on a leadoff single through the left side to get the inning started. Later in the inning Harris hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Johnson to make it an 8-2 game.
• Both teams went 3-up, 3-down in the sixth inning before Wheeling ended the scoring in the contest with two runs as their rally fell short. They scored one run on a sacrifice fly to center field and the next at bat they added one run on a single up the middle to make it 8-4.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Sydney Johnson: 4-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base
Kayla Mancuso: 3-for-5, 2 runs scored
Sara Simon: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Madison Angus: 7.0 innings pitched, 5 hits allowed, 3 earned runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 6, Wheeling 0
Team Records: West Liberty 9-13 (4-0 MEC), Wheeling 4-22 (0-4 MEC)
Attendance: 54
Pitching Decision: Win: Kadence Pettit (5-6), Loss: Tessa Wise (1-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After Kadence Pettit held Wheeling scoreless and struck out three in the first three innings of action, the Hilltoppers were the first to put runs on the scoreboard as two crossed the plate in the bottom of the third. Sydney Johnson scored Carlee Leidy with a single up the middle and as Isabella Caruso stole second base, Johnson advanced home on the throw to make it a 2-0 lead.
• WLU tacked on one run in the bottom of the fourth as Shelby Harris scored after hitting a leadoff double to left field as Sophia Aperfine reached base on an error.
• Pettit tallied two more strikeouts in the top of the fifth, while in the bottom half of the frame the Black & Gold scored a pair of runs. Jaden Conrad hit a single to center field to score Johnson while Harris hit a sacrifice fly to score Rosnick and push the lead to 5-0.
• The Hilltoppers scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Johnson hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to bring Woody home and make it a 6-0 contest.
• Pettit notched her seventh strikeout in the top of the seventh inning, marking her fourth game of the season with six or more. It was also her third complete game of the season.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Sydney Johnson: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases
Kayla Mancuso: 1-for-2, 2 walks, 1 stolen base
Mallory Rosnick: 1-for-2, 1 walk, 1 run scored
Kadence Pettit: 7.0 innings pitched, 4 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 7 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty continues MEC action this weekend as they travel to West Virginia State for a pair of games on Saturday afternoon. The Hilltoppers and Yellow Jackets are set for a 2 and 4 p.m. first pitch time at Lady Jackets Field in Institute, West Virginia.