BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team split with the Davis & Elkins Senators Wednesday at Culpepper Field, losing the first game 1-0 but bouncing back in game two 7-4. The doubleheader was originally scheduled to be played at D&E but was moved to Buckhannon.
Game 1
After Hannah Hudson got out of the top half of the first quickly, the Lady Bobcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the first. Wesleyan left empty handed as a groundout got the Senators out of early trouble. The game turned into a pitcher’s duel with the Lady Bobcats getting a hit in every inning for the rest of the game besides the seventh but doing nothing with the runners.
The 0-0 tie was broke in the top of the fifth when Jules Gutierrez hit a solo home run. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, WVWC had runners on the second and third but couldn’t bring one home as Jenna Christopher was gunned down trying to get home on a dribbler to third and Hallie Dinklocker grounded out to end the inning.
In Wesleyan’s final attempt to put runs on the board, the lineup went down 1-2-3 to end the game as Davis & Elkins took the first game 1-0.
Gutierrez had the only hit and RBI for the Senators. Saylor Kneeland pitched a complete game, securing her third win of the season on no runs, five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Alyssa Souders went 3-3 and Morgan Norris was 2-4 at the plate for the Lady Bobcats. Hudson pitched a gem, giving up one run (earned) on one hit, one walk and striking out five. Hudson was handed her fourth loss of the season.
Game 2
The second game was much different than the first game as Wesleyan scored the first run of the game on a solo home run to left from Souders. The Lady Bobcats put up three runs in the bottom of the third when Norris hit a three-run home run on a 3-2 count with two outs to make it 4-0 after three innings.
Davis & Elkins got on the board in the top of the fourth, scoring on a dropped fly ball to right. Kiley Turner and Andie Dizon started the bottom half of the inning with a walk, setting up Kaitlyn Rizor for an RBI single to go back up four runs. Taylor Swartz added two more runs with a two-run single up the middle as the Lady Bobcats led 7-1.
In the top of the fifth, the Senators trimmed the deficit back down to four on a one-run double to left and a one-run single to right. Both offenses quieted down until the top of the seventh when D&E made it 7-4 and had runners on first and second with no outs but Stoffel was able to close the game out strong with three consecutive outs.
Anjolina Gutierrez and Linzey Allard had two hits apiece for the Senators and an RBI each. Jules Gutierrez and Maddie Lavelle both added an RBI as well. Vanessa Hunt took the loss, going 3 2/3 innings and giving up seven runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks. Saylor Kneeland pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief, only surrendering two hits.
Norris led the Bobcats knocking in three runs and Swartz added 2 RBIs. Rizor and Souders also had an RBI each. Stoffel earned her 10th win of the season, giving up four runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Up Next For The Lady Bobcats
Wesleyan welcomes Alderson Broaddus and Notre Dame College to Buckhannon this weekend for doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1 and 3 p.m. both days.
