Hickory, N.C. - The West Liberty University softball team went 1-1 on day one of the Bear Bash at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
The Toppers used a six-run sixth inning to power past Assumption in their first game of the day, securing an 11-9 win in a back-and-forth battle on Saturday.
Game Recap:
Assumption took an early 1-0 lead in the first on a throwing error, but West Liberty responded in the fourth inning with a three-run surge. Alayna Cook started the rally with an RBI single, followed by Emily Allen reaching on a fielder's choice that led to another run. Sara Simon capped the inning with an RBI double down the right-field line, giving WLU a 3-1 advantage.
The Greyhounds cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth and then tied the game 3-3 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly.
West Liberty's offense exploded in the sixth inning, plating eight runs. Jillian Morr started the scoring with an RBI single, and Isabella McKee followed with a two-run single up the middle. The Hilltoppers kept the momentum going as Kayla Mancuso added an RBI single, and Cook delivered a two-run double down the left-field line. Jaden Conrad capped the inning with a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 11-3.
Assumption mounted a late rally in the seventh, scoring four runs to trim the deficit to 11-9, but Kadence Pettit shut the door in relief to secure the save.
Top Performers:
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Alayna Cook: 3-for-4, 3 RBIs, 1 double
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Isabella McKee: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run
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Sara Simon: 1-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 double
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Jillian Morr: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run
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Jaden Conrad: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs
Pitching Performance:
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Madison Angus started, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits in 4.1 innings.
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Leah Alford (W, 1-1) earned the win despite allowing 6 runs (4 earned) in 2.1 innings.
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Kadence Pettit (S, 1) came in for the final out to lock down the victory.
In their second game of the day against Augusta the Toppers couldn't overcome the Jaguar's offensive firepower, falling 10-2. The Jaguars used a combination of timely hitting and long balls to pull away late.
Game Recap
Augusta struck first in the third inning, plating three runs. A two-run single by B. Poff opened the scoring, followed by an RBI double from B. Roberts to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead.
West Liberty responded in the bottom half of the inning when Ashlyn Tapman launched a solo home run to right center, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Augusta added to its lead in the fourth when N. Ross delivered a two-run homer to left field, making it 5-1. The Jaguars tacked on another run in the fifth on an RBI single from K. Moody.
Jaden Conrad gave the Hilltoppers a spark in the sixth, blasting a solo homer to left to bring the score to 6-2, but Augusta quickly answered in the seventh. The Jaguars put up four runs in the final frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Moody and another solo shot by Ross to extend the lead to 10-2.
West Liberty couldn't generate a rally in the bottom of the inning, sealing Augusta's victory.
Top Performers
Pitching Performance
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Ashlyn Tapman (L, 0-2) took the loss, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits in 3.1 innings, striking out five.
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Kadence Pettit worked 1.2 innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on three hits.
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Brooke Perri pitched the final two innings, giving up four runs on six hits.
Up Next
The Toppers will play two more games Sunday in the Bear Bash. They face Young Harris at 10 a.m. and host Lenoir-Rhyne at 2:30 p.m.
