West Liberty, W.Va. – After falling 9-5 in the opening game of the afternoon at the Hilltopper Softball Complex, the West Liberty University softball team bounced back and returned to the win column with a 7-1 win over Concord. The Hilltoppers jumped out to an early 2-0 after sending the Mountain Lions down in order to start game one, however CU went on to score in each of the final six innings to earn the win. WLU responded in a big way to close out the Sunday doubleheader as they scored seven runs all within the first four innings and Kadence Pettit was in control in the circle as she limited Concord to only three hits while tossing six strikeouts in the complete game victory.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 5, Concord 9
Team Records: West Liberty 10-21 (5-8 MEC), Concord 20-15 (8-7 MEC)
Attendance: 152
Pitching Decision: Win: Josi Ervin (4-2), Loss: Madison Angus (1-8)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• After Madison Angus and the West Liberty defense opened the game by sending Concord down in order with a trio of ground outs, the Hilltoppers went on to strike first in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs. After Kayla Mancuso drew a lead off hit by pitch, she came around to score the first run of the game two at-bats later as Sara Simon grounded out to third base. Another two at-bats later Isabella Caruso was able to cross the plate after she reached base on an error, as she advanced home on the throw to second as Jaden Conrad notched a stolen base.
• The Mountain Lions earned their first run of the game with an RBI double to left center to cut the Hilltopper lead to 2-1 in the top of the second.
• After WLU left a runner stranded on second in the bottom of the second, CU was able to tie the game at two apiece with a run crossing the plate while Courtney Raines reached base on an error.
• West Liberty regained the lead in the bottom of the third with one run. Leading off, Caruso reached base and advanced to second on an error, then would score the ensuing at-bat as Simon hit a single up the middle to make it a 3-2 contest.
• While the Hilltoppers would force the Mountain Lions to leave the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, they would not be able to get out of the inning unscathed as CU scored three runs off four hits to take the lead for good. They first took the lead with back-to-back RBI doubles to center field and then later they pushed the score to 5-3 as one run scored on a fielder's choice.
• Concord extended their lead to 7-3 in the top of the fifth with a 2-run homerun.
• WLU got two runs back in the bottom half of the fifth as a single down the left field line brought home Caruso, who reached base on a single to left field earlier in the inning, and then the ensuing at-bat a ground out to third base by Mallory Rosnick brought home Simon, who hit an infield single back to the pitcher to get on base, to make it a 7-5 game in favor of CU.
• The Mountain Lions pushed the lead back to four runs as they scored one run on an RBI triple to right field in the top of the sixth and one run on an RBI double to left field in the top of the seventh.
• After the Black & Gold went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the sixth their rally came up short in the bottom of the seventh as they left the bases loaded. Mancuso and Caruso started the frame with back-to-back singles and a 1-out walk drawn by Conrad put the pressure on Concord, however the Mountain Lions escaped with a strikeout and fly out to right field to end the game.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Isabella Caruso: 2-for-4, 3 runs scored
Sara Simon: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Jaden Conrad: 2-for-3, 1 walk, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Caroline Woody: 2-for-3
Ashlyn Tapman: 1.2 innings pitched, 2 hits allowed, 1 earned run allowed, 2 strikeouts
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 7, Concord 1
Team Records: West Liberty 11-21 (6-8 MEC), Concord 20-16 (8-8 MEC)
Attendance: 152
Pitching Decision: Win: Kadence Pettit (7-8), Loss: Josi Ervin (4-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After a 3-up, 3-down top of the first for Concord which included a pair of strikeouts looking for Kadence Pettit, the West Liberty bats took advantage and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning. After drawing a hit by pitch to lead off for the Hilltoppers, Kayla Mancuso crossed the plate on a single up the middle by Sara Simon for the first run of the game. The next at-bat Mallory Rosnick reached base on a fielder's choice which scored Jaden Conrad, who reached base on a walk. The final run of the frame came the ensuing at-bat as Simon stole home.
• The Hilltoppers added to their lead in the bottom of the second as a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher by Isabella Caruso scored Sydney Johnson, who reached base on a bunt single. The next at-bat Conrad knocked an RBI single up the middle to score Mancuso, who reached on an error earlier in the inning, making it a 5-0 ball game.
• Pettit continued to be in control in the circle as she posted back-to-back 3-up, 3-down innings for the Mountain Lions in the top of the third and fourth, notching one strikeout looking and forcing five ground outs.
• After going scoreless in the bottom of the third with only one hit, the Hilltopper offense provided another spark in the bottom of the fourth as Johnson hit a lead off single through the left side and Caruso reached on a fielder's choice. The pair would come around to score and push the lead to 7-0 as Simon reached base on an error by the second baseman.
• CU tallied their only run of the game in the top of the sixth as a single through the right side brought one run across the plate to cut the WLU lead to 7-1.
• After West Liberty went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, Pettit closed out her seventh complete game of the season as she turned a double play by catching a line drive up the middle and making the quick toss to first, as well as forcing a ground out to Conrad at second base. It was also Pettit's fifth game of the year with six or more strikeouts.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Sydney Johnson: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored
Jaden Conrad: 1-for-2, 1 walk, 1 RBI 1 run scored
Sara Simon: 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Kadence Pettit: 7.0 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, 1 earned run allowed, 6 strikeouts
 
POSTGAME INTERVIEW (KADENCE PETTIT, SARA SIMON, AND HEAD COACH SARA PELEGREEN)


UP NEXT
West Liberty concludes this weekend's games with a doubleheader on Monday, April 8, against Glenville State. The Hilltoppers and Pioneers are slated for 2 and 4 p.m. first pitch times at the Hilltopper Softball Complex.