Bowie, Md. – The West Liberty University softball team secured their first two wins of the season on Thursday afternoon at Bulldogs Field with scores of 8-5 and 6-4 in a sweep of Bowie State. The pair of victories mark the first of the Sara Pelegreen coaching era on the hilltop. WLU held the edge throughout the doubleheader as they combined for 23 hits, reaching double figures in both contests, while the Hilltopper pitchers held the Bulldogs to 15 hits and notched 11 strikeouts.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 8, Bowie State 5
Team Records: West Liberty 1-10, Bowie State 5-11
Attendance: 89
Pitching Decision: Win: Brooke Perri (1-0), Loss: Akirra Pullen (2-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty got the scoring started right out of the gates in the top of the first as Kayla Mancuso drew a leadoff walk and Sydney Johnson followed it with a single to center field. Eventually Mancuso stole third and proceeded to cross the plate on a passed ball to make it 1-0.
• In the bottom of the first Bowie State took the lead with a pair of runs off two hits.
• The scoring continued into the second as the lead traded hands once again with the Hilltoppers plating three runs. A bunt single by Carlee Leidy allowed for Caroline Woody to even the game at two apiece, and then the ensuing at-bat Mancuso knocked a 2-RBI single into right field to score Isabella Caruso and Leidy to give WLU a 4-2 advantage.
• The Bulldogs kept their bats hot in the bottom half of the second as they collected three hits and scored another pair of runs off two RBI singles to even the game at four.
• The bats began to cool in the third inning as both teams went hitless and had only one hit apiece in both the fourth and fifth innings.
• BSU took advantage of their lone hit in the bottom of the fifth as the double to center field placed them in scoring position. A fly ball advanced them to third and they would eventually score on a passed ball to take a 5-4 lead.
• WLU swung the momentum back in their direction in the top of the sixth as three runs gave them the lead for good. Mancuso notched her second 2-RBI single of the contest with a hit to center field to score Shelby Harris and Woody to take a 6-5 lead. After stealing second during the next at-bat, Mancuso scored as Johnson reached base safely on an error.
• The Hilltoppers added an insurance run in the top of the sixth as Olivia Munoz, who pinch ran for Mallory Rosnick after a leadoff single to right center, crossed home plate on a groundout to the shortstop for Harris to make it an 8-5 game.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Kayla Mancuso: 2-for-3, 1 walk, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases
Sydney Johnson: 2-for-4, 2 stolen bases
Carlee Leidy: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Brook Perri: 3.2 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, 0 earned runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 6, Bowie State 4 (6 Innings)
Team Records: West Liberty 2-10, Bowie State 5-12
Attendance: 76
Pitching Decision: Win: Kadence Pettit (1-4), Loss: Lindsey George (2-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Liberty once again got the bats rolling early in the match-up as a double to left center by Sara Simon brought home Ashlyn Tapman and Mallory Rosnick, who reached base with a walk and a single to center field, to make it a 2-0 ball game.
• After Kadence Pettit and the Hilltopper defense sent Bowie State down in order in the bottom half of the first, the Black & Gold tacked on another run in the top of the second to extend their lead to 3-0. Carlee Leidy reached base safely on an error and advanced all the way to third, while the next at-bat she was brought home on an RBI single by Kayla Mancuso.
• The Bulldogs were able to record their first two hits of the day in the bottom of the second, however the WLU defense held firm and left the runners stranded on the corners.
• In the top of the third Rosnick and Pettit reached base by way of a pair of singles and Shelby Harris did so by drawing a walk to load the bases, however the Bulldogs were able to end the inning without any damage being done by getting the third out on a fielder's choice.
• Bowie State got within a run in the bottom of the third inning with a 2-run homerun to make it a 3-2 ball game.
• Both teams proceeded to go down in order in the fourth inning but regrouped to score two runs apiece in the fifth. In the top of the fifth the Hilltoppers took advantage of a double steal as Isabella Caruso stole second and also advanced to third while Rosnick stole home to push the lead to 4-2. Following the steal Harris hit a fly out to right field to score Caruso from third and make it a 5-2 contest. In the bottom half of the frame the Bulldogs scored one run on an error and a second on an RBI single to right field to draw back within one at 5-4.
• West Liberty closed the scoring in the match-up with a RBI single to center field by Tapman to score Mancuso and push the WLU lead to 6-4.
• Back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the sixth gave Bowie State a pair of base runners and they advanced to second and third on a groundout, however the Hilltoppers closed the game with a strikeout by Pettit and a groundout as the game was called after six innings due to darkness.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Mallory Rosnick: 3-for-4, 1 double, 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base
Kayla Mancuso: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Sara Simon: 2-for-3, 1 double, 2 RBI
Kadence Pettit: 6.0 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts, 1 earned run allowed
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will be back in action tomorrow, March 8, as they make the trip to Shippensburg. The doubleheader between the Hilltoppers and Raiders will start with a 12 p.m. first pitch for game one and a 2 p.m. first pitch for game two.