MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The West Virginia State University softball team played six games over the weekend at the annual Freeze Out Tournament in Myrtle Beach. The Yellow Jackets split a pair of games on Friday, swept two games on Saturday, and split a couple of games again on Saturday. They played five teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) along with nationally-ranked No. 17 Saint Anselm from the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10).
West Virginia State's overall record now stands at 8-6 following the weekend's results. WVSU will head to Evansville, Ind. next for an invitational tournament hosted by the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, Feb. 23.
Game 1: West Virginia State 6, Lock Haven 1, F/7
Emily Moore maintained her perfect record by tossing a complete game in which she allowed only four hits and struck out eight batters. Meanwhile, Shian Meeks starred at the plate by going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. She homered to left field in the top of the third inning with two runners on base to give West Virginia State a 5-0 lead.
Game 2: Shippensburg 11, West Virginia State 6, F/7
After the first inning, West Virginia State led 3-2 against Shippensburg. The next runs by both teams came in the fourth inning. The Yellow Jackets scored two runs while the Raiders scored three runs to tie the game at 5-5. A five-run half inning by Shippensburg in the bottom of the fifth put the game out of reach.
Paige Scruggs went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs scored, and a career-high four stolen bases to lead West Virginia State's offense.
Game 3: West Virginia State 8, Millersville 0, F/6
Emily Moore was in the circle for the Yellow Jackets for the second time of the weekend. She earned her fifth win of the season by giving up just two hits in another complete-game performance. Thanks to Moore's shutout of Millersville, West Virginia State put the game to rest in the sixth inning by gaining an eight-run lead.
Emma Ruth was the main factor at the plate for the Yellow Jackets. She went 2-for-4 with a double, a homerun, five RBIs, and a run scored.
Game 4: West Virginia State 9, Kutztown 3, F/7
The Yellow Jackets put on their best offensive display of the weekend to sweep their opponents on the second day of the Freeze Out Tournament. Scoring for West Virginia State started early with two runs in the bottom of the second and an additional two runs in the bottom of the third. Kutztown put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth to close the gap to one run, 4-3.
The Yellow Jackets responded immediately with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to end the doubt. Kasey Murphy led off with a solo shot over the left field fence for the first run. An error by the third baseman allowed the second run to score. Paige Scruggs then stepped up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. She singled on a hard ground ball up the middle to score the final two runs of the half inning.
Kasey Murphy picked up her first win of the year by giving up a measly five hits and one earned run in a complete seven innings of work.
Game 5: West Virginia State 4, Seton Hill (Pa.) 1, F/7
Emily Moore wrapped up her weekend in the circle by striking out a season-high nine batters in yet another complete-game outing. She earned her sixth win of the season and kept her record clean in an astounding start to her junior season.
Moore also provided the offense by going 2-for-3 at the plate, including the go-ahead, two-run homerun in the top of the fifth inning.
Game 6: #17 Saint Anselm 3, West Virginia State 2, F/7
No. 17 Saint Anselm won all six of its games over the weekend to prove its worthiness of its ranking. Emilee Walker was up to the challenge as she held the Hawks to three runs in seven innings of work in the circle. Fellow pitcher Emily Moore tried to help her teammate get the win by belting a two-run homerun as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets still came up one run short of potentially upsetting the Top 25 team.
