SALEM, Va. – West Liberty softball dropped a tightly contested 2-0 decision to the University of Charleston in Game One of the Mountain East Conference Championship, forcing a decisive winner-take-all Game Two at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va.

In a classic pitcher's duel, Hilltopper ace Kadence Pettit went toe-to-toe with Charleston's Addison Mass for six scoreless innings. Pettit scattered seven hits while striking out two and walking only one across a gritty 88-pitch complete game performance.

The Golden Eagles broke through in the top of the seventh, when Ella Zucchero's two-out double down the left field line plated two runs to give UC the only scoring of the afternoon. Despite the late breakthrough, Pettit kept the Hilltoppers in striking distance.

Offensively, West Liberty was limited to just two hits – both coming from shortstop Sara Simon – as Mass kept the Hilltopper lineup off-balance with eight strikeouts and only two walks in a dominant seven-inning shutout.

The Hilltoppers threatened in the early innings, with runners reaching in the second and third, but couldn't capitalize as Mass and the UC defense shut the door on potential rallies.

WLU and UC will now meet in a winner take all game at 1:30 p.m.