Bridgeport, W.Va. – In their final non-conference doubleheader of the season, the West Liberty University softball team recorded a split on the road at Salem on Friday afternoon as they fell 2-1 in the first game of the day before bouncing back with a 5-1 victory. Despite scoring first and out-hitting the Tigers in game one, SU tacked on a pair of runs late in the match-up and fended off the WLU rally. In game two the Hilltoppers seized the momentum immediately by scoring three runs in the top of the first and their pitching quieted the Tiger bats as Leah Alford and Ashlyn Tapman tallied a combined 4.0 hitless innings.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 1, Salem 2
Team Records: West Liberty 17-30 (11-15 MEC), Salem 11-32
Attendance: 38
Pitching Decision: Win: Andrea Gallegos (6-9), Loss: Ashlyn Tapman (3-7)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• The lone extra base hit for West Liberty in game one occurred in the top of the first inning as Sara Simon knocked a 2-out double into left center that got past the center fielder. She would be left stranded in scoring position as a strikeout the ensuing at-bat ended the frame.
• The only hit surrendered by Madison Angus in the first three innings of action was a leadoff triple over the outstretched arm of Avery Becker in left field to begin the bottom of the first inning. The Hilltoppers ended the scoring threat with three consecutive outs to keep the game scoreless.
• After Mallory Rosnick and Kiernan Johnson were left stranded in the top of the second after a pair of singles, WLU would eventually strike first on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. Kayla Mancuso connected on a leadoff bunt single, and advanced on a pair of sacrifice bunts before scoring on an error by the first baseman to make it a 1-0 ball game.
• The Tigers eventually evened the contest at one apiece in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI double down the right field line.
• Following a pair of walks in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ashlyn Tapman entered in relief and shut down the SU scoring threat by striking out the first batter and then forcing a fly out to Shelby Harris in center field.
• The Hilltoppers momentarily fended off the Tigers as Simon fielded a ground ball to shortstop and threw out the runner at the plate, however the ensuing at-bat Salem scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on a bunt single back to Tapman in the circle.
• WLU's rally fell short in the top of the seventh as they left a pair of base runners stranded. Leah Alford hit a single up the middle and Isabella Caruso drew a walk, however a pop up to second base and a strikeout ended the game.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Mallory Rosnick: 3-for-3
Sara Simon: 1-for-2, 1 double, 1 RBI
Kayla Mancuso: 1-for-4, 1 run scored
Madison Angus: 3.0 innings pitched, 1 hit allowed, 0 runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 5, Salem 1
Team Records: West Liberty 18-30 (11-15 MEC), Salem 11-33
Attendance: 42
Pitching Decision: Win: Leah Alford (3-3), Loss: Kendall Lemley (3-9)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Liberty seized the momentum immediately in the top of the first inning with three runs in the frame. Kayla Mancuso led off the inning with a double to right center and she came around to score the ensuing at-bat on a single up the middle by Jaden Conrad. Conrad stole second base and later crossed the plate on a single through the left side by Mallory Rosnick. Kieran Johnson scored on a passed ball after being hit by a pitch earlier in the frame.
• The Hilltoppers tacked on another run in the top of the third inning as Sara Simon crossed the plate on a single to right center by Rosnick, following a leadoff double down the left field line to open the frame.
• Leah Alford opened the game by pitching three consecutive 3-up, 3-down innings for the Hilltoppers, leaving Salem without a base runner until the bottom of the fourth when they recorded their first hit of the contest.
• After Kadence Pettit sent the Tigers down in order in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Hilltoppers added one final run in the top of the sixth inning. The Black & Gold loaded the bases with no outs and Caroline Woody crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it a 5-0 ball game.
• Salem scored their lone run of the contest In the bottom of the sixth on an inside the park homerun down the right field line to make it a 5-1 ball game.
• Ashlyn Tapman closed out the game two victory by pitching a 3-up, 3-down frame in the bottom of the seventh.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Kayla Mancuso: 3-for-3, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Sara Simon: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 run scored
Mallory Rosnick: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Leah Alford: 3.0 innings pitched, 0 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed
Ashlyn Tapman: 1.0 innings pitched, 0 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty concludes the 2024 regular season on Saturday afternoon with a visit to Notre Dame in South Euclid, Ohio. The Hilltoppers and Falcons are slated for first pitch times of 1 and 3 p.m. at Normandy Field.