BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team picked up two major wins Sunday at home against South Division rival Charleston. The Lady Bobcats won two one-run games, taking the first game 3-2 and game two 5-4. With the wins, Wesleyan moves one game behind UC for the lead in the division.
Game 1
Charleston got on the board early, driving one to the right-center gap with two outs to plate a run.
In the the third inning, Alyssa Rohr slapped a triple over the left fielder’s head and Taylor Swartz hit a two-run blast to right-center to give the Lady Bobcats a 2-1 lead after three innings.
Andie Dizon blasted a no-doubter to left to give the Lady ‘Cats a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Ladt Bobcats gambled on a liner to right but Megan McMackin would be thrown out at the plate on a close play.
UC started the top of the seventh with a double to center, cutting into the WVWC lead on the next batter with a single to right. Dizon gunned down a runner attempting to steal third to record the first out and Stoffel forced consecutive groundouts to take game one 3-2.
Brionna Bowman had three of the five hits for UC while Emma Groe and Brittany Ogg record an RBI each. Brianna McCown was handed just her third loss of the season after seven innings of work and allowing three runs (earned) on one walk and seven strikeouts.
Swartz and Rohr finished with two hits each as Swartz led the Lady Bobcats with two RBIs. Kendall Stoffel picked up her 17th win of the season, giving up two runs (both earned) on five hits and four walks.
Game 2
Morgan Norris singled Swartz home and Dizon hit her second home run of the day with a two-run shot to make it 3-0 after an inning. A mishap with two outs in the outfield allowed Charleston to get a run on the board in the top of the second. Abagail O’Shields didn’t let it affect her, striking out the next batter to get out of the inning.
UC dropped a blooper into right field to bring the runner from second home to once again cut into Wesleyan’s lead, making it 3-2 through 4 ½ innings. In the next inning, Charleston knotted it up at 3-3 with a two-out solo home run that barely got over the fence and took the lead with another solo shot on the next at-bat.
An error by the UC defense with two outs kept the bats alive for the Lady ‘Cats in the bottom of the sixth. Swartz took full advantage of the extra at-bat, hitting a line drive home run to left-center to give Wesleyan a 5-4 lead going into the top of the seventh. Hannah Hudson recorded two strikeouts and forced a popup to end the game, securing the doubleheader sweep 5-4.
Hannah Rose was 2-3 at the plate to lead Charleston. Three other Golden Eagles recorded an RBI and Jeritza Montero also had two hits. Danielle Bauer was forced out of the game after just 1/3 of an inning of work, allowing three runs (earned). Addison Mass took the loss, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up two runs (unearned) on four hits and four walks.
Swartz and Dizon both knocked in two runs with Swartz finishing the day with three hits for the Lady Bobcats. O’Shields allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Hudson pitched in relief, taking the win after 2 1/3 innings and striking out three.
Up Next For The Lady Bobcats
Wesleyan closes out the regular season at home next weekend with doubleheaders against Concord (Friday) and Glenville State (Saturday).
