West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team will close out its Mountain East Conference (MEC) schedule on Thursday with a home doubleheader against Point Park University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Hilltopper Softball Complex.
The Hilltoppers (25-22, 17-9 MEC) enter the final weekend of the regular season just two games behind first place in the MEC North Division. Point Park sits in third place in the division with a 14-26 overall record and an 8-16 mark in conference play.
West Liberty has won three straight games against the Pioneers, including a sweep earlier this season on March 14 in Pittsburgh. In that doubleheader, the Hilltoppers earned 2-1 and 5-2 victories. Madison Angus earned the win in game one, going the distance while allowing just six hits and one run. Kadence Pettit tossed a complete game in the second contest, surrendering six hits and two runs.
Offensively, the Hilltoppers enter Thursday's matchup with a team batting average of .285, which ranks sixth in the MEC. Their pitching staff holds a 3.55 ERA, third-best in the conference. Point Park, meanwhile, is batting .239 as a team (11th MEC) with a 4.19 ERA (6th MEC).
Sydney Johnson, the reigning MEC Player of the Week, leads the Hilltoppers at the plate with a .434 batting average. She's been even more dominant in conference play, hitting .476 – the highest average in the MEC. Four Hilltoppers have driven in more than 20 runs this season, led by Isabella McKee with 25. Jillian Morr has tallied 23 RBI, while Sara Simon and Jaden Conrad have each contributed 21.
In the circle, Pettit leads West Liberty in wins (13), complete games (10), strikeouts (64), and ERA (2.90). She's been dominant in MEC play with a 10-1 record, 2.10 ERA, and 48 strikeouts. Leah Alford follows with a 3.16 ERA, while Madison Angus holds a 3.60 mark.
West Liberty will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a non-conference doubleheader against Salem University. First pitches are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m. at the Hilltopper Softball Complex.
The MEC Tournament is set for next week, running Wednesday through Sunday in Salem, Va.
