Frostburg, Md. - The West Liberty University softball team kicked off its doubleheader against Frostburg State in thrilling fashion on Saturday, using a four-run rally in the top of the seventh to capture an 8-5 comeback victory in Game One.

Down 5-4 heading into their final at-bat, the Hilltoppers showed their grit and poise at the plate. With the bases loaded, Olivia Munoz drew a walk to bring home Kadence Williams and tie the game. Moments later, Kayla Mancuso worked another bases-loaded walk, pushing Jaden Conrad across to give West Liberty a 6-5 lead.

 Sydney Johnson delivered the dagger, lacing a two-RBI single to right-center that scored Madalyn Johnson and Munoz, capping the rally and giving the Hilltoppers an 8-5 edge they wouldn't relinquish.

Johnson had a monster day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and five RBIs, including a two-run homer in the third inning that helped West Liberty erase an early 1-0 deficit. Emily Allen also homered in the second to tie the game, and Munoz finished with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI.

In the circle, Kadence Pettit came on in the seventh to shut the door and earn her 13th win of the season, tossing a scoreless inning and stranding a pair of Frostburg runners.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout. Frostburg State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and later tied things up 3-3 in the third. The Bobcats briefly reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning with a two-run double from Arden Miller, but West Liberty's bullpen held strong the rest of the way.

Ashlyn Tapman was solid in relief, tossing two no-hit innings with three strikeouts, keeping the Hilltoppers within striking distance heading into the final frame.

West Liberty totaled nine hits in the win and showed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks, including three by Mancuso alone. 

Game 2 

The Hilltoppers capped off a successful 4-0 road trip by sweeping their doubleheader with the Bobcats, finishing the day with a convincing 10-1 victory in Game Two.

After grinding out an 8-5 win in the opener, the Hilltoppers kept their foot on the gas in Game Two, using a balanced offensive attack and another strong pitching performance from Kadence Pettit to close out the sweep.

Frostburg took an early 1-0 lead in the first, but that was all they'd get. Pettit (14-3) was sharp in the circle, scattering four hits over six innings and striking out four. She allowed just one run and didn't issue a walk in another efficient outing.

West Liberty (25-22, 17-9) tied the game in the fourth when Jaden Conrad's RBI single scored Madalyn Johnson and advanced to second on a Frostburg miscue. Olivia Munoz followed with a two-run double to left-center to give the Black and Gold a 3-1 lead.

The Hilltoppers broke things wide open in the fifth. Sara Simon brought home Sydney Johnson with an infield single, and Pettit helped her own cause with an RBI double. Ashlyn Tapman later scored on a wild pitch, and back-to-back RBI singles from Isabella McKee and Kayla Mancuso stretched the lead to 8-1.

In the sixth, Pettit added a sacrifice fly to score Jillian Morr, and Rebecka Evans reached on an error that allowed Tapman to cross the plate for the final run of the game.

Tapman led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Morr and Johnson also scored twice, while Munoz, McKee, and Pettit each drove in a pair. West Liberty racked up 11 hits, swiped seven bases. 

The Hilltoppers will close the regular season next Friday and Saturday when they host Point Park and Salem in a pair of doubleheaders.