WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team opens postseason play Wednesday evening, taking on Glenville State in the opening round of the 2026 Mountain East Conference Softball Championship. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia.

The Hilltoppers enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed from the North Division, marking their seventh consecutive MEC Tournament appearance and eighth overall. Awaiting them is a tough challenge in South Division No. 2 seed Glenville State, one of the top teams in the league this season.

West Liberty (23-29) will look to lean on a balanced offensive attack led by junior outfielder Paytyn Tucker, who paces the team with a .344 batting average, 55 hits, and 38 runs scored while adding 24 stolen bases. Jaden Conrad has been a consistent run producer, hitting .333 with a team-high 32 RBIs and 14 doubles, while Isabella McKee (.315) and Sara Simon (.291) provide additional power and depth in the lineup.

As a team, the Hilltoppers rank seventh in the MEC in batting average (.274) and have shown the ability to manufacture runs with speed and situational hitting, totaling 60 stolen bases and 35 sacrifice bunts on the season.

In the circle, West Liberty will rely on a trio of pitchers led by Kadence Pettit, who owns a 3.08 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 109.0 innings. Rylee Mangold (3.28 ERA) and Annaliese Davis (4.67 ERA) provide additional depth as the Hilltoppers look to navigate a deep tournament field.

Glenville State (45-13) presents a formidable opponent, ranking among the top offensive teams in the conference with a .315 team batting average. The Pioneers are led by Zailees Seda (.380), Delaney Warnick (.351), and Emily Nolan (.344), while Warnick adds significant power with nine home runs and a .601 slugging percentage.

In the circle, Glenville State boasts one of the top pitching staffs in the MEC with a 2.11 team ERA. Kylie Burdick leads the way with 17 wins and 114 strikeouts, while Maci Boggess (1.88 ERA) and Meghan Stump (2.01 ERA) give the Pioneers multiple strong options.

The matchup will be a test for West Liberty, as Glenville State swept the regular season series earlier this spring. However, the Hilltoppers enter the postseason with confidence built through a season of growth.

"Our women have built such resiliency this year through all the ups and downs we have faced as a team," head coach Sara Pelegreen said. "To clinch a spot in the tournament wasn't an easy feat for us this year, but the grittiness behind our work paid off to get us there. Now we get back to work."

Pelegreen emphasized the challenge ahead and the opportunity it presents.

"We are facing Glenville, who currently sits No. 4 in the region," she added. "Our season hasn't been an easy one, and we didn't expect that to change going into the tournament. We get to see what we are made of right out of the gate."

With postseason experience from a year ago, the Hilltoppers understand what it takes to compete in Salem.

"Last year we had a great run at the tournament, but it's a new season with different players and different trials and triumphs to this point," Pelegreen said. "We just need to put our head down, know who we are as a team, step into it and compete the best we can each inning."

The MEC Tournament features an eight-team, double-elimination format running through Saturday. With a win, West Liberty would advance in the winner's bracket, while a loss would send the Hilltoppers into an elimination game on Thursday.

First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Field 3 as West Liberty begins its postseason run.

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.