Wheeling, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team was able to salvage a mid-week split on Tuesday afternoon at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex, as following a 5-4 (8 Innings) defeat in game one they battled back with a 7-1 victory in game two. Playing in their second consecutive and fourth extra inning contest of the year, the Hilltoppers fell to 1-3 in those match-ups as they lost in walk-off fashion as the Cardinals recorded a solo homerun and a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. In game two the Black & Gold struck first in the top of the first and never looked back as they slowly built up a 7-1 advantage, scoring in four straight innings midway through the match-up. Additionally, WLU saw Ashlyn Tapman pitch her second straight complete game and win as she held the Cardinal bats at-bay in game two, surrendering only three hits while striking out four.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 4, Wheeling 5 (8 Innings)
Team Records: West Liberty 15-26 (9-12 MEC), Wheeling 9-36 (4-17 MEC)
Attendance: 100
Pitching Decision: Win: Ryleigh Peters (5-12), Loss: Leah Alford (2-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty loaded the bases in the top of the first inning as Kayla Mancuso was hit by a pitch, Shelby Harris hit a double down the left field line, and Kieran Johnson drew a walk, however they would be left stranded as Wheeling's Ryleigh Peters recorded her third strikeout of the frame.
• The Cardinals and the Hilltoppers each went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the first and the top of the second respectively, before WU struck first in the bottom of the second with a 2-out, 2-RBI single to center field to take the lead.
• WLU answered in the top of the third as Mancuso drew a leadoff walk before stealing second and being brought home on a double to right center by Conrad. Two at-bats later Mallory Rosnick connected on a 2-run shot over the left field fence to give West Liberty a 3-2 advantage.
• Madison Angus and the West Liberty defense sent the Cardinals 3-up, 3-down for the second time in the contest in the bottom of the third and forced the Cardinals to leave runners stranded on the corners after a double and a single in the fourth.
• WU tied the game at three apiece in the bottom of the fifth on a fielder's choice play hit to Conrad at shortstop, as Wheeling's Makie Paxson avoided a tag and snuck around third towards home plate on the throw over to first during a double-play attempt.
• After each team left base runners stranded in the sixth, they each went down in order in the seventh as the game went into extra innings.
• In the top of the eighth, Isabella Caruso knocked a double into left field and was brought home the ensuing at-bat as Mancuso doubled to right center but was thrown out at third to end the inning as she attempted to stretch the hit into a triple.
•  In the bottom of the eighth Wheeling tied the game at four apiece with a solo homerun to right field, and then earned the walk-off win on an RBI single to center field. 

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Jaden Conrad: 3-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Mallory Rosnick: 2-for-4, 1 homerun, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Kayla Mancuso: 1-for-2, 1 double, 1 walk, 2 hit-by-pitch, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 7, Wheeling 1
Team Records: West Liberty 16-26 (10-12 MEC), Wheeling 9-37 (4-18 MEC)
Attendance: 100
Pitching Decision: Win: Ashlyn Tapman (3-5), Loss: Tessa Wise (3-10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Liberty struck first in the top of the first inning with a pair of runs as Shelby Harris hit an infield single to first base to score Kayla Mancuso, who hit a leadoff single to third base to begin the game, and Mallory Rosnick connected on a single to left field to score Sara Simon, who reached base on a fielder's choice.
• Wheeling got one run back in the bottom of the first as they scored on an error to make it a 2-1 ball game.
• Both teams went 3-up, 3-down in the second inning, before Harris extended the Hilltopper lead to 4-1 with a 2-RBI single to center field to score Jaden Conrad and Simon, who recorded a single and a double back-to-back to open the frame.
• A Conrad single to center field in the top of the fourth tacked another run onto the board for the Black & Gold as Isabella Caruso crossed the plate on an error by the center fielder after advancing to third on the hit, making it a 5-1 advantage.
• After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth, Rosnick, Conrad, and Kieran Johnson turned a double play, and an Ashlyn Tapman strikeout ended the frame.
• West Liberty scored one run in the top of the fifth inning as a sacrifice fly out by Olivia Munoz to right field gave Rosnick enough time to tag up and score to make it a 6-1 lead.
• Following a 3-up, 3-down inning for the Cardinals in the bottom of the fifth, the Hilltoppers scored their final run of the contest in the top of the sixth. Caruso took advantage of a throwing error to first and advanced to third. She then crossed the plate the ensuing at-bat on a ground out to second base by Mancuso.
• Tapman and the Hilltopper defense forced the Cardinals to go down in order in each of the final two innings of the game.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Jaden Conrad: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Shelby Harris: 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 1 stolen base
Sara Simon: 2-for-4, 1 double, 2 runs scored
Mallory Rosnick: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Ashlyn Tapman: 7.0 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, 0 earned runs allowed, 4 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will return to the hilltop this weekend as they will celebrate Senior Day against Fairmont State on Saturday, April 20. The Hilltoppers and Falcons are set for first pitch times of 1 and 3 p.m. at the Hilltopper Softball Complex.