PEMBROKE, N.C. – The West Virginia State University softball team traveled to UNC-Pembroke this past weekend for an invitational tournament. The Yellow Jackets won their first game, 4-0, against Kutztown on Friday afternoon before dropping the second game of the doubleheader, 9-5.

On Saturday morning, West Virginia State played the tournament hosts in another twin bill. WVSU was defeated by UNC-Pembroke in the first game, 5-1, before claiming victory in the second game, 4-3.

Game 1: West Virginia State 4, Kutztown 0 (F/7)

Scoring Summary
Emma Ruth's double to center field in the bottom of the third scored Paige Swisher from third base to put the Yellow Jackets on the scoreboard, 1-0. Paige Scruggs singled to center field in the next at bat to bring in Sarah Barrett, who advanced to third base on Ruth's double, and Ruth. The 2-RBI single left WVSU up 3-0 at the end of the third inning

In the top of the fifth, Emma Ruth hit a sacrifice fly into left field that scored Sarah Barrett from third base and gave the game it's final score.

Top Pitching Performance
Emily Moore picked up the win for tossing a complete-game shutout in which she allowed only six hits.

Top Plate Performances
Emma Ruth: 1-2, 2B, SF, 2 RBI, 1 R
Paige Scruggs: 2-3, 2 RBI. 1 SB
Sarah Barrett: 2-3, 2B, 2 R

Game 2: Kutztown 9, West Virginia State 5 (F/7)

Scoring Summary
Kutztown scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. West Virginia State got one run back in the top of the second when Danielle Lebsock singled to center field and scored Shian Meeks. The Bears scored one more run in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Bears added three runs to their tally. Then in the top of the fourth, Meeks doubled and Lebsock tripled to bring in two runs for the Yellow Jackets. They still trailed by four runs, 7-3, at the end of the inning.

KU managed to knock in two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, while WVSU knocked in two runs in the top of the seventh as part of a late rally that came up short.

Top Pitching Performance
Kasey Murphy came into pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning and did not give up a hit to any of the five batters that she faced.

Top Plate Performances
Shian Meeks: 3-4, 2B, 3B, 1 RBI, 2 R
Danielle Lebsock: 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI, 1 SB
Kasey Murphy: 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

Game 3: UNC-Pembroke 5, West Virginia State 1 (F/7)

Scoring Summary
The Braves scored one run in the bottom of the first, one run in the bottom of the second, and three runs in the bottom of the sixth. West Virginia State's one run scored came from a solo shot belted by Shian Meeks in the top of the sixth inning.

Top Pitching Performance
UNC-Pembroke's Leviner threw a complete game in which she only allowed three hits.

Game 4: West Virginia State 4, UNC-Pembroke 3 (F/7)

Scoring Summary
UNC-Pembroke got on the scoreboard first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. West Virginia State tied up the game, 1-1, in the top of the third when Meeks doubled down the left-field line to score Swisher all the way from first base.

The Yellow Jackets went up 3-1 in the top of the fourth with RBI-singles from Murphy and Barrett. They added a significant insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Meeks belted her second solo shot of the weekend.

The Braves were able to score twice in the bottom of the seventh, but their rally was cut short as two outs were forced by the Yellow Jackets with the bases loaded.

Top Pitching Performance
Emily Moore tossed a complete game in which she struck out six batters and threw a total of 139 pitches. She forced two ground outs with the bases loaded and a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win.

Top Plate Performances
Shian Meeks: 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI. 1 R
Paige Scruggs: 1-2, 1 BB, 2 SB
Madison Rafuson: 2-3, 1 R
Kasey Murphy: 2-3, 1 RBI