BUCKHANNON, W.Va.– The West Virginia Wesleyan (11-6-1, 2-0 MEC) softball team took advantage of solid performances in the circle from Hannah Hudson and Abigail O’Shields to take a doubleheader sweep of Fairmont State (4-8, 0-2 MEC) on Friday. The Lady ‘Cats took game one 6-2 and scored seven runs in the final two innings to win game two 7-1 at Culpepper Field.
Game One
WVWC got to work early in game one as the first three batters got on base thanks to a Grace Hightower double, a Molly Osborne walk, and a Morgan Norris bunt single. Then, Alli Robinson stepped up to the plate with the bags full and punished a center-cut fastball over the left-field fence for a grand slam.
Fairmont State cut into the Lady Bobcats 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth after they plated an unearned run on a single to center by Emily Riggs. The Orange and Black would add some insurance in the bottom of the 5th when Robinson singled to left to start the inning. The next batter, Taylor Swartz, sent a deep drive over the left-field fence to make it 6-1 Lady Bobcats. All six of the Wesleyan runs came by way of the long ball as the Lady Bobcats would close out game one with a 6-2 win.
Hudson (5-1) was credited with the win in game one. Hudson was magic in the circle tossing a complete game punching out seven Fighting Falcons. The Blackstone, Va. native, limited Fairmont State baserunners all afternoon, surrendering a measly five hits and one free pass.
Game Two
Game two started differently for the Lady ‘Cats as they stranded eight baserunners over the first four innings. Fairmont State would capitalize on the Lady Bobcat misfortunes in the top of the third when the Fighting Falcons would break the deadlock on a Hannah Workman sac fly. However, WVWC answered in the bottom of the fifth when Kiley Turner delivered a clutch two-out single to plate Norris and tie up the contest at one.
WVWC exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control of the contest. Bella Posey led the inning off with a single to center. Two batters later, Osborne drew a walk to put two runners on. Then, after a Norris ground out to first base, Robinson delivered a two-out, two-strike double to left with to plate Posey and Osborne. With a 3-1 lead, the next two batters would reach base before Turner deposited the third Lady Bobcat home run on the day over the left-field fence.
O’Shields (3-2) kept the Fighting Falcon offense off-balance all afternoon, surrendering just six baserunners in the contest. The junior southpaw gave up one earned run while punching out four in the complete-game victory.
Wesleyan will be back in action Sunday hosting Frostburg State in a MEC doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
