WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team will look to build on its recent momentum this weekend as the Hilltoppers hit the road for a pair of Mountain East Conference doubleheaders, beginning Saturday at West Virginia State University before traveling to University of Charleston on Sunday.
West Liberty enters the weekend at 9-14 overall and 3-1 in MEC play, riding a three-game winning streak following a doubleheader sweep of Wheeling earlier this week.
The Hilltoppers have shown steady improvement at the plate, hitting .267 as a team with 158 hits and 95 runs through 23 games.
Paytyn Tucker has been a catalyst at the top of the lineup, batting .380 while going a near-perfect 15-for-16 on stolen base attempts.
Sara Simon (.362, 2 HR, 15 RBI) and Jaden Conrad (.353, 11 RBI) have anchored the middle of the order, while Jillian Morr continues to provide consistency with a .305 average.
West Liberty showed its offensive potential in Wednesday's sweep, including an 11-run outburst in game two highlighted by timely hitting and extra-base production.
In the circle, the Hilltoppers have relied on a balanced rotation led by Kadence Pettit (4-5, 3.33 ERA), Rylee Mangold (3-2, 3.44 ERA), and Annaliese Davis (1-3, 3.59 ERA).
The trio has combined for the bulk of innings this season, helping West Liberty stay competitive in tight games. Davis is coming off a dominant performance in the circle in game two against Wheeling, tossing a complete-game shutout.
West Virginia State University enters the weekend at 8-14 overall and 0-6 in conference play.
The Yellow Jackets feature a power-heavy lineup, led by Kylie Price (.357, 3 HR) and Olivia Bell (.293, 4 HR), contributing to a team slugging percentage near .400.
Despite their record, West Virginia State has proven capable offensively, hitting .261 as a team with 14 home runs on the season.
West Liberty has had success in the recent series, sweeping last year's home doubleheader and winning three of the last four meetings overall.
The Hilltoppers will then face a tough test Sunday against University of Charleston, one of the top teams in the MEC South Division at 20-10 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
Charleston boasts a deep lineup hitting .271 as a team, with multiple hitters batting over .300, including Taylor Hodson (.366) and Kayla Moran (.333). In the circle, Addison Mass has been dominant with a 1.97 ERA and 128 strikeouts.
The meeting marks the first matchup between the two programs since last season's MEC Tournament, where Charleston claimed two wins. The regular-season series a year ago was tightly contested, with the teams splitting a doubleheader at West Liberty.
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.
