BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team defeated the Salem Tigers at home Tuesday, sweeping the season series. The Lady Bobcats won 2-0 in a quick first game and run-ruled Salem with a 10-2 victory in five innings in the second game. In total, WVWC totaled 24 hits on the day.
Game 1
Andie Dizon broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the fourth with a solo shot to dead center and Abigail O’Shields was rolling through the Tiger lineup through four innings of play, not allowing a single baserunner. Maya Reyes had a pinch hit double to center to start the fifth inning and Hallie Dinklocker came through with a single through the left side to make it 2-0. O’Shields’ perfect game was ended after a single to center with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lady Bobcats began the top of the seventh with a double over the left fielder’s head from Jenna Christopher. She then advanced to third on a wild pitch but was thrown out at home on double play. The Tigers had three consecutive flyouts in the bottom of the seventh to end the game with WVWC winning 2-0.
Sierra Chapa and Meesha Arroyo had the only hits for the Tigers in the loss. Andrea Gallegos was the losing pitching, going seven innings and giving up two runs (both earned) on one strikeout and one walk.
Alyssa Rohr had two hits while Dinklocker and Dizon added an RBI apiece. O’Shields put together her second-straight two hit pitching performance, going seven innings and striking out 11.
Game 2
Back-to-back two out doubles from Morgan Norris and Dizon plated the first run of the game for the Lady Bobcats in the top of the first. Hannah Hudson completed her second-straight 1-2-3 inning and the Lady Bobcats rewarded her with a barrage of runs in the top of the third.
Christopher singled and stole second, followed by Morgan Norris’ infield single. Dizon powered over her second home run of the day to make it 4-0. After Alli Robinson singled and Emily Ross walked, the Lady Bobcats extended their lead to five due to a throwing error on a steal attempt by Ross which allowed Robinson to jog home. Kaitlyn Rizor ended the scoring with a double to left as WVWC led 6-0 after 2 ½ innings.
Wesleyan increased their lead even more in the top of the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles from Norris and Dizon. Salem’s Sierra Chapa pulled the first hit of the game for the Tigers to the left side of the infield in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers fed off the Chapa single with two more to load the bases. With two outs, Salem capitalized with a single in the right-center gap that scored two.
WVWC had their own two out offense in the top of the fifth as pinch hitters Reyes and Payton Campbell singled as well as Norris to load the bases. Dizon swung on the first pitch she saw to rip a two-run single between third and short. With the eight-run lead, Hudson closed out Salem in the bottom of the fifth to take the 10-2 win in five innings.
Four different Tigers tallied a hit while Meladie LaRance had two RBIs. Emily Villar took the loss after just 2 2/3 innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits while walking one.
Dizon and Norris both went 4-4 with Dizon putting in seven of the 10 RBIs. Hudson allowed two runs (both earned) on four hits and five strikeouts.
Up Next For The Lady Bobcats
Wesleyan will be back at Culpepper Field on Saturday to face Charleston at 1 and 3 p.m. and on Sunday against West Virginia State at 2 and 4 p.m.
