WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Despite a strong late-inning push, the West Liberty University softball team dropped a tight 2-1 decision to Davis & Elkins in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at the Hilltop.
The Hilltoppers entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 2-0 but showed fight until the very last out. Senior Jaden Conrad sparked the rally with a one-out double and came around to score on a clutch RBI double by Jillian Morr, cutting the deficit to just one. West Liberty's momentum continued with the go-ahead run at the plate, but the Senators held on to escape with the win.
West Liberty's offense produced six hits, led by Kayla Mancuso, who went 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot. Conrad and Morr each added doubles, while Sydney Johnson and Emily Allen chipped in base hits of their own.
In the circle, Madison Angus (6-8) delivered a solid start, going 4.1 innings and allowing just one run on five hits. Leah Alford came on in relief and worked the final 2.2 innings, surrendering one run and striking out two.
Davis & Elkins broke through in the fifth with an RBI double by Lina Gutierrez, then added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single from Ashlyn Zapach. That proved just enough to outlast the Hilltoppers' late surge.
Prior to the game WLU honored their four seniors; Emily Allen, Madison Angus, Sydney Johnson and Kayla Mancuso.
Game 2
A fast start wasn't enough for the Hilltoppers (20-21, 12-8) , as a late-inning surge by Davis & Elkins proved to be the difference in an 8-5 setback during game two of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Hilltoppers came out sharp, putting up three runs in the second and third innings. Sydney Johnson got things rolling with an RBI infield single to score Sara Simon in the second. In the third, heads-up baserunning helped plate two more as Kayla Mancuso and Jaden Conrad both scored on wild pitches and a defensive miscue to give West Liberty a 3-0 cushion.
After the Senators scratched across an unearned run in the fourth, West Liberty answered in the fifth. Emily Allen came through with a two-run single to shortstop, scoring Simon and Jillian Morr to extend the lead to 5-1.
But the momentum shifted in the sixth. Davis & Elkins capitalized on three walks, a double, and a defensive error to erupt for seven runs in the inning, seizing an 8-5 lead that would hold through the final frame.
Offensively, the Hilltoppers tallied nine hits, including multi-hit efforts from Simon (2-for-4, 2 runs), Allen (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), and Kadence Pettit (2-for-3). Isabella McKee and Simon also each added a double.
In the circle, Pettit got the start and worked five strong innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Ashlyn Tapman (1-8) took the loss in relief, while Leah Alford finished out the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.
West Liberty will return to action Sunday with a doubleheader against West Virginia Wesleyan at Noon and 2 p.m. at the Hilltopper Softball Complex.
