INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team picked up two South Division wins Friday as they defeated West Virginia State in a doubleheader on the road. The Lady Bobcats won 7-5 in the first game and 6-2 in game two. WVWC had 10 hits in each game.
Game 1
The Lady Bobcats put together some two-out offense in the top of the first as Alli Robinson doubled Morgan Norris in after she was hit by a pitch. West Virginia State’s Emma Ruth answered on the second pitch she saw, hitting a home run to left-center to tie it up. An error by the Lady Bobcat defense and a sacrifice fly to left gave WVSU the lead after an inning of play.
Alyssa Souders started the top of the second with a double in the right-center gap and scored on an errant throw from the shortstop to tie the game once again. Hallie Dinklocker gave the Lady Bobcats the lead back when she doubled down the left field line to make it 3-2. The Lady Bobcats produced more offense in the top of the third with a pair of one-out singles but couldn’t muster any runs off of it. A single by Kaitlyn Rizor and an error by the shortstop allowed Grace Smith to get on with no outs for the Bobcats in the top of the fourth. Morgan Norris took full advantages, ripping a single to left to plate two runs for Wesleyan.
West Virginia State got a Yellow Jacket to third after starting the inning with a walk but Hannah Hudson was able to retire the side on a groundout. In the top of the fifth, Andie Dizon walked and Souders pulled a double down the left field line to get in scoring position. An error by the first baseman allowed Dizon to score and on the following play, Jenna Christopher and Souders would be doubled up to end the inning. WVSU cut into four-run deficit with a two-run home run to left in the bottom of the fifth. Two more Yellow Jackets were on with two outs but Hudson got a swinging strikeout to close the inning.
After Dinklocker started the sixth with a walk and was moved to second on a sac bunt from Taylor Swartz, Norris added her to RBI total with a single to left field. With a leadoff single and a walk to start the bottom of the sixth, Kendall Stoffel was brought in to relieve Hudson. An error by the Lady Bobcat defense surrendered a run as WVSU made it 7-5 after six innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Stoffel shut the door with three consecutive strikeouts to take the win.
Kasey Murphy knocked in two runs for the Yellow Jackets and Emma Pauley led the team with two hits. Murphy was in the circle for WVSU as well, taking the loss while going seven innings and surrendering seven runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks.
Norris was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with three runs knocked in for the Lady Bobcats. Dinklocker, Robinson and Savannah O’Shields all added an RBI as well. Hudson took the win, going five innings and giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and walking four. Stoffel pitched in relief and was awarded the save.
Game 2
Dinklocker started the second game by reaching first on an error by the shortstop. Swartz moved Dinklocker to second with a sac bunt and Robinson was able to bring her home to make it 1-0.
In the top of the third, Swartz led the inning off with a single and Norris got on due to an error by the shortstop. Swartz was brought home on a Souders groundout and Rizor singled up the middle to bring the Lady Bobcat lead to 3-0. With one out in the bottom half of the third, WVSU had back-to-back singles which led to a two-run double that cut the Wesleyan lead down to just one.
Wesleyan loaded the bases in the top of the fifth with one out and scoring consecutive runs on an error and a one-run from Dinklocker. The sixth inning saw the Lady Bobcats add another run to the board as Norris started the inning off with a single and Robinson was hit by a pitch, allowing Rizor to bring home the run.
In both the sixth and seventh innings, West Virginia State generated late offense and put runners in scoring position, giving themselves opportunities to chip into the Wesleyan lead. Stoffel avoided any further damage, getting out of both innings unscathed and securing the doubleheader sweep with a 6-2 win.
Emele Clark and Autumn Thompson both had two hits and Murphy brought both runs in as she had 2 RBI. Autumn Thompson was handed the loss after seven innings of work, giving up six runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks.
Five different Lady Bobcats recorded two hits and Rizor led the team with two runs knocked in. Stoffel was solid once again, going seven innings and giving up two runs (both earned) on six hits and walking three.
Up Next For The Lady Bobcats
Wesleyan won’t go far Saturday as they head to Charleston to face the Golden Eagles for a huge doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
