INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Yellow Jackets pitching was dominate for the second straight elimination game on Friday for WVSU disposed of Winston-Salem State University Ram 8-0 in five innings in the NCAA Division II Softball Atlantic Region 2 Tournament at Lady Jacket Field.

Kasey Murphy pitched the complete game shutout for WVSU, throwing five innings, scattering five hits with four strikeouts and zero walks to improve to 10-3 on the season.

With the victory, State improves to 35-15 and advances to the championship game against West Chester University  on Saturday at noon. The Yellow Jackets must defeat the Rams twice to win the title.

State pitchers have now hurled 18 straight innings in the tournament without allowing a single run. Emily Moore pitched a seven-inning shutout in the Yellow Jackets 1-0 victory over Gannon in an elimination game, also on Friday.

After allowing three runs in the first inning against Winston-Salem State on Thursday in a 3-0 loss, Emilee Walker pitched the final six innings without allowing a run for WVSU.

"We put it together," State coach Mattie Best said. "I was glad to see it. We rolled from the first game to the second game and I am hoping they keep rolling into tomorrow. We came out hungry and ready to fight after yesterday's loss against them."   

State avenged their previous loss to WSSU, going right to work early. The Yellow Jackets scored five runs in the first inning against the Rams on just one hit to take a commanding 5-0 lead. 

Kayleigh Thompson led off the first inning with a walk and Brookelyn Hale reached on an error for WVSU. Thompson would score the first run of the game on an error.

Paige Scruggs hit a double off the left field fence to plate two runs, giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead. She would later score on another WSSU error and Madison Rafuson scored later in the frame on a wild pitch.

State would tack on two more runs in the second inning when Danielle Lebsock singled, stole second, and later scored on another Ram error. Emma Ruth also delivered a RBI single. The Yellow Jackets scored their eighth run in the fourth inning on a Brittany Allison RBI double.