BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team split with West Virginia State Friday at Culpepper Field, taking game one 2-1 but dropping the second game 5-4. The Lady Bobcats clinched the season series with the victory in game one.

Game 1
There was no offense until the Lady Bobcats scored their only runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth on an Andie Dizon opposite field two-run home run. The Yellow Jackets answered with a run in the top of the fifth, scoring on a suicide squeeze that worked out in favor of WVSU. The bats quieted down for the remainder of the game but West Virginia State did make it interesting in the top of the seventh.

The Yellow Jackets led the inning off with a single by Kasey Murphy in the left-center gap, putting the tying run on base. She stole second to get in scoring position with one out to give WVSU a chance to tie it up. Abigail O’Shields finished the game out strong, striking out one and forcing a popup to Morgan Norris over at first to end the game, taking the 2-1 victory.

Clarke Moore had the lone RBI for the Yellow Jackets. Murphy picked up a hit and pitched six innings, taking the loss with two runs (both earned) on four hits and striking out four.

Dizon finished with two runs-batted-in and Bella Posey had two hits for the Lady Bobcats. O’Shields got win number seven, pitching a complete game with just one run (earned) on three hits and six strikeouts.

Game 2
West Virginia State opened up the second game with a run in the first, scoring on a one-run single up the gut to take a 1-0 lead. Wesleyan tied the game up quickly as Norris hit a liner right in front of the left fielder to bring Hallie Dinklocker home. West Virginia State retook the lead in the top of the fifth with a big two-run double to left-center field.

The Yellow Jackets opened their lead up to 5-1 in the top of the sixth as Addi Dillow toughed out a long at-bat and cam through with a two-run single to left field. WVWC started the bottom half of the sixth with a baserunner but a groundout and consecutive flyouts ended the inning. Wesleyan had their most offensive inning in the bottom of the seventh, generating two-out offense with four-straight singles that scored three runs and put the winning run on base. A warning track shot ended the game with West Virginia State escaping with a 5-4 win.

Emma Ruth and Dillow both knocked in two runs each to lead the Yellow Jackets. Murphy picked up three hits also in the win. Autumn Hall was the winning pitcher, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up four runs (all earned) on nine hits. Autumn Thompson got the save after coming in during the seventh and closing out the game.

Dinklocker led the team with a 2-4 performance at the dish while bringing in two RBIs. Norris and Taylor Swartz both finished with a RBI. Hannah Hudson went five innings, allowing three runs (earned) on seven hits and six strikeouts, taking the loss.

Game 1

Game 2