Shippensburg, Pa. – The West Liberty University softball team was unable to continue the momentum of yesterday's sweep into today's doubleheader at Shippensburg, falling by scores of 9-0 (6 innings) and 12-4 (5 innings). The Hilltopper bats were kept quiet in the opening game as they only connected on three hits, however they came to life in game two with seven, which included a double and a homerun for Sara Simon.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 0, Shippensburg 9 (6 Innings)
Team Records: West Liberty 2-11, Shippensburg 8-3
Attendance: 55
Pitching Decision: Win: Alicia Ball (5-1), Loss: Ashlyn Tapman (0-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty was held without a base runner the first two innings of the match-up while Shippensburg recorded a double to left center in the bottom of the first and broke through with the first run of the game in the bottom of the second on a solo homerun to right field.
• The Hilltoppers notched their first hits of the game in the top of the third with a single to third base by Shelby Harris and a single up the middle by Carlee Leidy, however Harris was caught trying to steal second and Leidy was left stranded on second as a strikeout ended the frame.
• The Raiders extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning as they scored on a single to left field, a fielder's choice, and a single to center field. The Hilltoppers closed out the inning defensively by recording a fly out and two consecutive ground outs.
• WLU was able to gain a couple of base runners in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single to third base by Sydney Johnson, however she would be caught trying to steal second, and Sara Simon drew a walk. The inning came to a close with Simon stranded on first with a ground out.
• SU added another pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-0 game with a double to left field and a double to left center back-to-back.
• Caroline Woody reached base safely with two outs in the top of the fifth as she was hit by a pitch, however a strikeout ended the frame the ensuing at-bat.
• In the bottom of the fifth Shippensburg notched their second homer of the game as a solo shot to right center by the leadoff hitter extended their lead to 7-0.
• Kayla Mancuso gave the Hilltoppers a base runner after being hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot in the top of the sixth, but Shippensburg closed down the frame without WLU building any momentum.
• The Raiders ended the game by run rule in the bottom of the sixth as their third homerun of the game, this time a 2-run shot over the left field fence, made it a 9-0 win. 

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Shelby Harris: 1-for-2
Carlee Leidy: 1-for-2, 1 stolen base
Sydney Johnson: 1-for-3
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 4, Shippensburg 12 (5 Innings)
Team Records: West Liberty 2-12, Shippensburg 9-3
Attendance: 55
Pitching Decision: Win: Madalyn Dyer (2-0), Loss: Kadence Pettit (1-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Liberty was able to strike first in game two as Sydney Johnson and Mallory Rosnick notched back-to-back singles. A wild pitch allowed for both runners to advance to second and third, and Sara Simon hit a ground out to shortstop allowing for Johnson to cross the plate, making it a 1-0 game.
• Shippensburg scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead as a single through the left side of the infield and a double to center field allowed for the runs to score.
• Both teams left a base runner stranded in the second inning and the Hilltoppers went down in order in the top of the third before the Raider bats erupted for six runs in the bottom of the third. SU scored one run on a fly out to right field, two runs on a single to left center, two runs on a triple to left center, and one run on a fielding error to bring the score to 8-1.
• Lauren Nolte entered to pinch run in the top of the fourth for Simon who knocked a leadoff double to left field. She advanced to third on a single up the middle by Kieran Johnson and crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 8-2.
• After allowing a leadoff walk, the WLU defense shut down Shippensburg in the bottom of the fourth as they forced a fielder's choice out and a pair of fly outs.
• Simon once again was a spark in the Hilltopper offense with a 2-run homerun over the right field fence, also scoring Kayla Mancuso to cut the deficit to 8-4.
• In the bottom of the fifth SU scored four to end the game by run rule, 12-4, as they scored runs on a fielding error, a sacrifice fly to center field, a double down the left field line, and a single to center field.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Sara Simon: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 homerun, 3 RBI, 1 run scored
Kayla Mancuso: 1-for-3, 1 run scored
Sydney Johnson: 1-for-3, 1 run scored
 
UP NEXT
Tomorrow's softball doubleheader against Bluefield State at the Hilltopper Softball Complex has been cancelled due to the anticipated weather forecast. The games between the Hilltoppers and Big Blue will be attempted to be rescheduled, however the next games up for WLU will be a doubleheader at Seton Hill on Thursday, March 14, with 1 and 3 p.m. first pitch times.