Softball Lady ‘Cats take two from West Liberty

Sports Release
April 18, 2022

BUCKHANNON, W.Va.– West Virginia Wesleyan (26-11-1, 16-4 MEC) softball used late-inning heroics on Saturday to come away with a massive doubleheader sweep of the West Liberty Hilltoppers (22-16-1,12-7 MEC). The sweep gives the Lady ‘Cats a three-game cushion in the Mountain East Conference south division title race.

Game One
Two of the conference’s best arms squared off in game one, with Hannah Hudson getting the nod for the ‘Cats and Makenzie Amend starting for the opposition. The two showcased their talents from the start holding both teams scoreless in the first three frames. WLU got to Hudson in the fourth when a pair of doubles gave the Hilltoppers the game’s first run. WVWC would respond in the bottom half, led by Taylor Swartz getting hit by a pitch and stealing second to get in scoring position. The next batter, Morgan Norris, burned the Hilltopper left fielder for a double of her own and played Swartz to even the score. Gracie Payne squeaked one up the middle and moved up to second when the Hilltoppers tried to get Norris advancing to third. Destiny Alvarado would then plate Norris on a sac fly to center before Kiley Turner dropped a Texas-leaguer over third base to bring Payne in to score and give the Lady ‘Cats a 3-1 lead.

Wesleyan would put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth when Molly Osborne deposited a three-run shot over the left center field fence to make it 7-1 Bobcats.

Hannah Hudson (13-3) outdueled her opposition to record her 13th win on the season. Hudson scattered one run on two hits while striking out 10 Hilltoppers. The Blackstone, Va. native, registered her 17th complete game and fourth double-digit strikeout performance.

Game Two
The backend of the doubleheader featured another strong pitching matchup. With only one run being scored in the first five innings of the contest. WLU got on the board first in the second when Abigail O’Shields walked in a run with the bases loaded to give the Hilltoppers the lead. The Lady ‘Cats had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth when Alli Robinson flew out to the right field, trying to tie the game up. Kiley Turner was cut down at the plate trying to tag up from third on the play.

Down to their final six outs, Swartz stepped up to the plate and delivered a deep home run to left-center to tie the game up at one apiece. However, West Liberty regained the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run blast over the right-centerfield fence to give the Hilltoppers the 3-1 advantage. The Orange and Black would not go down easily as they put runners on second and third with two outs and down to their final chance. With two strikes on her, Payne delivered a two RBI single to center to plate the tying runs and send the game to extras.

Hudson would relieve O’Shields in the eighth and strand two runners on base with a pair of strikeouts to keep the game level. After Lauren Niglio led the bottom of the eighth off with a HBP. Bella Posey sac bunted her over to second base. Grace Hightower would deliver the game-winning RBI on a single to center field to score Niglio and give the Lady ‘Cats a 4-3 win.

Hudson (14-3) was credited with the win in game two after she relieved O’Shields, who tossed seven complete innings and held the Hilltoppers to just three runs on eight hits