HICKORY, N.C. – The West Liberty University softball team closed their run at the Bear Bash by pulling off a thrilling upset over No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne, securing a 6-5 victory in extra innings on Sunday. A clutch eighth-inning RBI single by Brooke Perri proved to be the game-winner as the Hilltoppers took down the nationally ranked Bears.

Game Recap

West Liberty wasted no time getting on the board, with Emily Allen launching a solo home run to left field in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. Lenoir-Rhyne answered in the second inning, tying the game 1-1 on an RBI single by A. Gray.

The Bears grabbed their first lead in the third when Cassidy Wall singled home a run, making it 2-1. West Liberty responded in the fourth, capitalizing on a throwing error by Lenoir-Rhyne's third baseman. With two runners on, Madalyn Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt, and an errant throw allowed both Sara Simon and Sydney Johnson to score, giving WLU a 3-2 lead.

Lenoir-Rhyne continued to battle, tying the game at 3-3 in the fifth on a Wall RBI double and then taking a 4-3 lead in the sixth when Adda Prescott singled up the middle to drive in another run.

Down to their final three outs, the Hilltoppers delivered in dramatic fashion. Isabella McKee crushed a two-run homer to left-center in the top of the seventh, scoring Allen and putting WLU ahead 5-4. However, the Bears wouldn't go down easily, as Wall responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras tied at 5-5.

In the eighth, Caroline Woody scored on Perri's clutch RBI single through the right side, giving West Liberty a 6-5 advantage. Kadence Pettit then shut the door in the bottom of the inning, retiring the final three batters to seal the upset victory.

Top Performers

• Emily Allen: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 runs

• Isabella McKee: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 1 run

• Jillian Morr: 1-for-5, 1 double

• Brooke Perri: 1-for-1, game-winning RBI

• Sydney Johnson: 1-for-3, 1 run

Pitching Performance

• Madison Angus: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB

• Ashlyn Tapman: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

• Kadence Pettit (W, 1-1): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

In game one of the day, despite an early lead and a strong start, the Toppers  couldn't hold off Young Harris College, falling 8-3 after a decisive fifth inning by the Mountain Lions.

Game Recap

The Hilltoppers got on the board in the first inning when Isabella McKee ripped an RBI double down the right field line, scoring Jaden Conrad for a 1-0 lead. Young Harris responded in the bottom half, tying the game at 1-1 after an RBI single from Addie Heal.

After three scoreless innings, West Liberty regained the lead in the fifth. With two runners on, Brooke Perri delivered a clutch two-run single to right-center, plating McKee and Sara Simon to put WLU ahead 3-1.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the bottom of the fifth. Young Harris strung together a series of hits, scoring seven runs in the inning. Jess Jaruszewski delivered the crushing blow, launching a grand slam over the fence to give the Mountain Lions an 8-3 advantage.

West Liberty was unable to mount a comeback in the final two innings, as Young Harris' bullpen shut the door to secure the win.

Top Performers – West Liberty

• Isabella McKee: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 double

• Brooke Perri: 1-for-1, 2 RBIs

• Jaden Conrad: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 double

• Caroline Woody: 2-for-3

Pitching Summary

• Kadence Pettit (L, 0-1): 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 2 K

• Leah Alford: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Up Next

The Toppers will visit IUP Wednesday in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.