WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team earned a split in its non-conference doubleheader against Indiana (Pa.) on Wednesday afternoon at the Hilltopper Softball Complex, taking game one 2-1 before falling in a high-scoring nightcap, 15-11.
Game One: West Liberty 2, IUP 1
West Liberty opened the day with a strong pitching performance from Rylee Mangold, who tossed a complete game, allowing just two hits and one run while earning her fourth win of the season.
The Hilltoppers struck first in the opening inning as Paytyn Tucker came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Isabella McKee. After IUP evened the score with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, West Liberty answered in the sixth.
With the bases loaded, Kadence Pettit drew a walk to bring home the go-ahead run, scoring Jaden Conrad and giving the Black and Gold a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Mangold closed the door in the seventh to secure the victory, as West Liberty capitalized on timely hitting and strong defense in a tightly contested opener.
Game Two: IUP 15, West Liberty 11
The nightcap turned into an offensive battle, as the two teams combined for 26 runs on 30 hits.
IUP jumped out to an early lead with an eight-run first inning, but West Liberty responded with resilience, scoring four runs in the second behind a two-RBI double from Jaden Conrad.
The Hilltoppers continued to battle back, adding two runs in the third and four more in the fourth to cut the deficit to 12-10. Delaney Deitrick delivered a key two-RBI single, while Sara Simon, Rylee Mangold, and Ashleigh Heiderscheit each contributed RBI during the rally.
Despite the comeback effort, IUP extended its lead with a three-run home run in the fifth inning and held off West Liberty the rest of the way. The Hilltoppers added a run in the seventh on an RBI single from Annaliese Davis, but could not complete the rally.
Conrad led the offense in game two with three hits and two RBIs, while Heiderscheit added two hits and two RBIs. Mangold scored three times, and Deitrick drove in three runs to highlight a balanced offensive effort.
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.
