WHEELING, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team battled through five competitive innings before a big sixth inning lifted the University of Findlay to a 16-3 victory Saturday morning at the Highlands Sports Complex.

West Liberty moves to 2-5 on the season.

Findlay struck first with an RBI single in the opening inning, but the Hilltoppers answered in the second.

Paytyn Tucker continued her strong weekend with an RBI double to plate Delaney Deitrick, and Alayna Cook followed with a run-scoring single to give West Liberty a 2-1 lead.

The Oilers tied the game in the third and pushed ahead with a three-run fourth inning to take a 5-2 advantage.

West Liberty trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the fifth when Isabella McKee doubled to left field to drive in Jaden Conrad.

The game turned in the sixth as Findlay capitalized on timely hits and defensive miscues to plate 11 runs. Only one of the runs in the inning was earned, as the Oilers took advantage of six Hilltopper errors in the contest to extend the lead.

Tucker led West Liberty offensively, finishing 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI. McKee added two hits and an RBI, while Cook and Caroline Woody each contributed a base hit.

Ashlyn Tapman took the loss after allowing two runs over 2.2 innings. Rylee Mangold, Annaliese Davis, and Ashleigh Heiderscheit also saw time in relief.

West Liberty will continue play in the Highlands Classic Sunday. They face Findlay again at 10 a.m. and then Lake Erie at 3 p.m.