STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team lost to East Stroudsburg Saturday 1-0 in the Atlantic Regional Pod 1 Championship, putting an end to a remarkable season for the Lady ‘Cats. This defeat was just the third time that the Lady Bobcats were shutout this season.
ESU started the bottom of the second with a single down the left field line and a walk. After Abigail O’Shields bounced back with a strikeout, ESU executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position with one out. O’Shields forced a popup in the infield but a line drive on the next play got past Kaitlyn Rizor at second base to plate the only run of the game.
Grace Smith had the first hit of the game for Lady ‘Cats in the top of the foutth, lining one down the first base line that ricocheted off the first baseman’s glove. Pinch runner Maya Reyes stole second to get in scoring position, however a flyout to the shortstop halted the scoring opportunity.
Hannah Hudson relieved O’Shields at the start of the fifth, striking out one and keeping the deficit at one. In the top of the sixth, Taylor Swartz drew a one out walk and Morgan Norris hit a two out single to put runners at first and second for the second-straight inning. Andie Dizon just got under it, flying out to center to end the top half of the inning.
Hudson pitched another strong inning of relief as the Bobcats still trailed 1-0 going into the final inning. The first two batters in the top of the seventh flew out, followed by Kiley Turner’s single up the middle. The Warriors forced a pop up in the infield to end the game, taking the 1-0 win.
Reilly Vicendese had two of the Warriors six hits and Brooke McKeown finished with a hit and the lone RBI. Paige Zigmund was solid in the circle all day, tossing a complete game with no runs, five hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
Five different Lady Bobcats compiled a hit in the loss.
O’Shields pitched well, going four innings and allowing the one run of the game (earned) on just four hits and two walks while striking out three. Hudson threw two innings of relief, striking out three.
