WESTFIELD, Ind. – The West Virginia State University softball team competed in the Midwest Region Crossover, hosted by Southern Indiana, over the weekend. The Yellow Jackets defeated Truman State after dropping a game to Southern Indiana on Saturday. On Sunday, West Virginia State fell twice to Bellarmine.
West Virginia State's overall record stands at 9-9 following the weekend's result. The Yellow Jackets will play in one more tournament, hosted by Glenville State, before beginning their Mountain East Conference schedule. The invitational tournament is set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 29 and Sunday, March 1.
Game 1: Southern Indiana 10, West Virginia State 1, F/7
West Virginia State had a tough time generating runs on Saturday, dropping their game with Southern Indiana University, 10-1.
Emily Moore took her first loss of the season. She went five innings, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out six.
Danielle Lebsock, Shian Meeks, and Kasey Murphy each managed one hit to lead the Yellow Jackets.
Game 2: West Virginia State 4, Truman State 1, F/7
West Virginia State stole the lead late and defeated Truman State, 4-1, in the second game on Saturday. The game was tied at one with the Yellow Jackets batting in the top of the sixth when Kasey Murphy singled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run.
West Virginia State opened up scoring in the second inning. Jaelyn Hunt grounded out, scoring one run.
The Bulldogs evened things up at one in the bottom of the third inning when an error scored one run for Truman State.
Emily Thompson earned the victory in the circle for West Virginia State. She went three innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits and striking out two.
Annabel Zimmer took the loss for Truman State. She lasted seven innings, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out three.
Murphy started the game for West Virginia State. She went four innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out one
Shian Meeks, Paige Scruggs, Kasey Murphy, Paige Swisher, and Madison Rafuson each collected one hit to lead the Yellow Jackets.
Cameryn Patterson led the Bulldogs with one hit in three at bats.
Game 3: Bellarmine 6, West Virginia State 2, F/7
In the first of two games against Bellarmine on Sunday, West Virginia State gave up a trio of two-run innings to Bellarmine to end up with a 6-2 defeat to the Knights.
Bellarmine opened up scoring in the top of the third with the first of its two-run innings. In the bottom of the third, the Yellow Jackets put one run on the scoreboard when Paige Swisher singled to center field.
The Knights added two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to go up by five runs, 6-1. Kasey Murphy singled to center field in the bottom of the sixth to get one final run across for West Virginia State.
Emily Moore took her second loss of the weekend. She went five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out four.
Paige Swisher led the Yellow Jackets with two hits and a walk in three plate appearances.
Game 4: Bellarmine 7, West Virginia State 5, F/7
West Virginia State fought back after going down by five runs in the fourth inning. The comeback fell just short, though, in the second game against Bellarmine on Sunday. West Virginia State scored three runs in the failed seventh-inning comeback on a single by Paige Swisher and a triple by Jade Fleeman.
The Yellow Jackets couldn't keep up with the Knights early in the game. Bellarmine scored four runs off a pair of singles and a passed ball in the second inning.
Down 7-2, West Virginia State tallied three runs in the top of the seventh. Swisher and Fleeman each drove in runs during the two-out rally.
Kasey Murphy took the loss for West Virginia State. She surrendered seven runs on nine hits over five innings, striking out one.
The Yellow Jackets racked up seven hits in the game. Both Swisher and Emma Ruth had two hits to lead West Virginia State. The Yellow Jackets were sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Ruth made the most plays with seven.
