WHEELING –In a game marked by clutch hits, defensive miscues, and marathon innings, West Virginia Wesleyan came up just short in a 6-5 extra-inning loss in game one of a doubleheader to Wheeling University on Saturday.
The Lady Bobcats got things rolling early, capitalizing on a first-inning error to take a 1-0 lead. Alyssa Rohr reached on a misplay in left, and Lynzee Hauge followed with a run-scoring double to deep center.
Wesleyan reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning after Wheeling tied it at 1-1 in the third. Rohr singled and scored again—this time on an RBI double by Andie Dizon, who had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Josi Fix added to the tally with a double of her own, scoring Jaylynn Hodge as a pinch runner, to push the score to 3-1.
After Wheeling trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the fifth, Wesleyan added insurance in the seventh thanks to Dizon’s timely RBI single, scoring Rohr for her third run of the evening. But Wheeling stormed back in their half of the seventh, stringing together four hits, including a two-run double by Amber Morgan, to even the score at 4-4.
Both teams threatened in extra innings, but strong defensive plays kept the score locked until the 10th. With the international tiebreaker rule placing Gracey Arnold on second to start the inning, Wesleyan executed small ball to perfection. A sac bunt by Ella Fournier moved Arnold to third, and a sacrifice fly from Rhiannon Godley brought her home, making it 5-4.
Wheeling answered swiftly in the home half. Grace Mummery was placed on second and moved over on a sac bunt. Kaylin Shields, who had gone the distance in the circle for Wheeling, helped her own cause by singling to left to tie the game. After a fielder’s choice and a single, Keke Warrix delivered the final blow—a walk-off RBI double to center field that plated the game-winning run.
In the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader, Wesleyan once again saw a late lead slip away, falling 7-6 to the WU Cards in another tightly contested matchup.
The Lady Bobcats opened the scoring in the first inning for the second straight game. Alyssa Rohr reached on an error and eventually came around to score on a groundout by Josi Fix. Rohr’s speed continued to create problems for the Cards’ defense, as she stole a base and scored again in the third on an RBI single by Dizon to extend Wesleyan’s lead to 2-0.
Holding a 2-0 lead and cruising behind starter Josi Fix through four innings, the Lady Bobcats’ control unraveled in the bottom of the fifth. Wheeling strung together a devastating rally — starting with a pair of doubles by Maria Clark and Keke Warrix that tied the game. A walk and three singles later, including a two-out bases-clearing double by Grace Mummery, gave the Cards a commanding 6-2 lead.
The Lady Bobcats responded immediately in the sixth. Lynzee Hauge led off with a single, and Dizon drove her in with her third hit of the night. After a fielder’s choice and a double from Gracey Arnold, the hits kept coming. Ella Fournier ripped a two-bagger to score Arnold, and Madison Autra followed with a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. Hallie Dinklocker also contributed with a single in the inning.
With the game tied heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Cards capitalized on a fielding error and a wild pitch to put a runner in scoring position. Pinch hitter Tasiana Taufahema then delivered the decisive blow, doubling to right field to plate what would be the winning run.
Wesleyan put the potential tying run on base in the top of the seventh after another hit by Dizon, but Wheeling reliever Kaylin Shields induced a double play to end the threat and secure the sweep. Shields, who had pitched a 10-inning complete game in the opener, earned the save to cap her day.
