SALEM, Va. – The West Liberty University softball team split its first two games Saturday at the Salem Regional Tournament at the Moyer Complex, opening the day with a 2-1 victory over Slippery Rock before falling to Shippensburg, 7-6 in eight innings.
The split moves the Hilltoppers to 5-10 on the season.
Game 1 – West Liberty 2, Slippery Rock 1
West Liberty used timely hitting and a strong pitching performance from Kadence Pettit to edge Slippery Rock in a tightly contested opener.
After five scoreless innings, the Hilltoppers broke through in the sixth. Kadence Pettit delivered an RBI single that brought home Delaney Deitrick, who had entered as a pinch runner earlier in the inning. West Liberty added another run moments later when Annaliese Davis grounded out to shortstop, allowing Paytyn Tucker to score and extend the lead to 2-0.
Slippery Rock threatened in the seventh with an RBI single from Maddie Cavenaugh, but Pettit worked out of the jam to secure the win.
Pettit tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five.
At the plate, West Liberty recorded eight hits, led by Tucker and Jaden Conrad, who each finished with two hits.
Game 2 – Shippensburg 7, West Liberty 6 (8 innings)
The Hilltoppers battled throughout the nightcap but fell in extra innings in a back-and-forth contest.
West Liberty jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Heavenlee Pall reached on a bunt that resulted in a throwing error, allowing Sara Simon and Annaliese Davis to score.
Shippensburg answered with three runs over the next two innings before the Hilltoppers tied the game in the fourth on an RBI walk by Paytyn Tucker.
The Hilltoppers delivered their biggest rally in the sixth inning. Tucker doubled to center field to drive in two runs, and Jillian Morr followed with an RBI single to give West Liberty a 6-4 advantage.
Shippensburg responded in the seventh with a two-run home run by Reagan Bauman to tie the game, before pushing across the go-ahead run in the eighth on an RBI single from Leah Schwalm.
West Liberty totaled 10 hits in the game, with Tucker going 2-for-4 with three RBIs while Morr added two hits and an RBI. Simon also scored three runs in the contest.
Up Next
West Liberty continues play in the Salem Regional Tournament on Sunday, facing Shepherd at 10 a.m. followed by Bloomsburg at noon.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
