Institute, W.Va. – After entering the weekend with six straight wins, the West Liberty University softball team faced their third consecutive loss in a 5-1 defeat to West Virginia State in Monday's game one, but they battled back and salvaged the doubleheader split with an 8-1 win in game two. The Hilltoppers held the Yellow Jackets scoreless in five innings of the opener at Lady Jacket's Field, however a 5-run bottom of the fifth was enough for WVSU to secure the win. WLU flipped the script in game two as they were the ones with the big inning, scoring four runs out of the gates in the top of the first as they cruised to the win in the finale as Kadence Pettit sent five Yellow Jackets down on strikes.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 1, West Virginia State 5
Team Records: West Liberty 9-16 (4-3 MEC), West Virginia State 13-15 (5-4 MEC)
Attendance: 218
Pitching Decision: Win: Autumn Thompson (8-6), Loss: Madison Angus (1-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Following three scoreless innings where each team had only managed a pair of hits, it was West Liberty that struck first in the top of the fourth in game one. Jaden Conrad hit a leadoff single through the left side and came around to score a few at-bats later as Olivia Munoz singled to left center to make it a 1-0 ball game.
• Madison Angus and the Hilltopper defense continued to keep the Yellow Jacket bats at bay as they went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the fourth, however it was the bottom of the fifth where the damage was done for WVSU. West Virginia State scored all five of their runs in the frame as they totaled six hits to take a 5-1 advantage.
• Both teams went 3-up, 3-down in the sixth inning before WLU tried to put together one final rally in the top of the seventh. Carlee Leidy started off the inning with an infield single to shortstop, and following a pair of ground outs Mallory Rosnick drew a full count, 2-out walk to give them a pair of base runners. The game came to a close the ensuing at-bat on a ground out.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Carlee Leidy: 2-for-3
Kayla Mancuso: 1-for-3, 1 walk
Olivia Munoz: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Ashlyn Tapman: 1.2 innings pitched, 2 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 8, West Virginia State 1
Team Records: West Liberty 10-16 (4-4 MEC), West Virginia State 13-16 (5-5 MEC)
Attendance: 201
Pitching Decision: Win: Kadence Pettit (6-7), Loss: Kaleigh Murphy (3-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Liberty was once again able to strike first in game two as they plated four runs in the top of the first to build the early momentum. Kayla Mancuso and Sara Simon gave the Hilltoppers a pair of early base runners, reaching on a single to third base and an error respectively, before each crossed the plate on Mallory Rosnick single up the middle for a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning Rosnick scored on a fielder's choice and Jaden Conrad made it 4-0 as she stole home.
• WLU tacked on another run in the top of the second as Simon singled to right field to score Isabella Caruso, who knocked a single down the left field line earlier in the frame, to push the score to 5-0.
• West Virginia State got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second on an infield ground out, cutting the WLU lead to 5-1.
• West Liberty got the run back in the top of the fourth as Caruso reached on a fielder's choice and later stole home to give the Hilltoppers the 6-1 lead.
• The Black & Gold ended the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh as a sacrifice fly by Carline Woody to left field brought home Conrad, followed by a sacrifice ground out by Carlee Leidy to score Kieran Johnson and make it an 8-1 ball game.
• Kadence Pettit and the WLU defense kept WVSU quiet as they forced three consecutive 3-up, 3-down innings to end the contest.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Kayla Mancuso: 2-for-4, 2 runs scored, 1 walk
Isabella Caruso: 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Sara Simon: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 stolen bases
Kieran Johnson: 1-for-1, 1 double, 1 run scored
Kadence Pettit: 7.0 innings pitched, 5 hits allowed, 1 earned run allowed, 5 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will remain on the road next weekend as they visit Frostburg State on Friday afternoon. The Hilltoppers and Bobcats are slated for 1 and 3 p.m. first pitch times at Bobcat Field in Frostburg, Maryland.