GLENVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University softball team traveled to Glenville State over the weekend for an invitational tournament and were edged on four separate occasions in a tough slate of games. The Yellow Jackets came up one run short in a pair of games against West Chester, lost by two to Shippensburg, and were defeated by three runs by Indiana-Pennsylvania.
West Virginia State slides to 9-13 overall after the weekend's results. The softball team has been on the road for the past five consecutive weekends now, competing in various tournaments across five different states. The Yellow Jackets will surely be enjoying their time off this week before their home opener versus Glenville State on Saturday, March 14. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Indiana-Pennsylvania 9, West Virginia State 6, F/7
West Virginia State fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 9-6 loss to IUP in Saturday's earlier contest.
The Crimson Hawks scored four runs off a couple of homeruns in the first inning to go ahead from the start. They had another big offensive inning in the sixth with a pair of doubles that brought three baserunners home.
Down 9-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Paige Swisher doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring two. The rally ended there with the next three batters being sat down.
Despite the loss, the Yellow Jackets did collect eight hits in the high-scoring affair. Unfortunately, IUP had nine hits on the way to victory, including three two-run jacks.
Hope Jones was credited with the victory for the Crimson Hawks. She lasted seven innings, allowing eight hits and six runs while striking out six.
Kasey Murphy took the loss for West Virginia State. She allowed five hits and six runs over two innings, striking out one.
Emma Ruth went 2-for-4, including a double, at the plate to lead West Virginia State in hits.
Game 2: West Chester 5, West Virginia State 4, F/7
It came down to the last play, but West Virginia State was on the wrong end of a 5-4 defeat to West Chester in Saturday's later contest. The game was tied at four with the Golden Rams batting in the bottom of the seventh when they snagged a single to score the game-winning run.
WVSU was up 4-2 after scoring an insurance run in the top of the seventh. West Chester got on base with its first two at bats in the bottom of the seventh and then tripled to clear the bases. A single on a line drive to right field brought the game-clinching run from third across home plate.
Jen Hanshaw was the winning pitcher for the Golden Rams. She pitched the last two-thirds of an inning, allowing zero hits and zero runs while walking zero.
Emily Moore took the loss for the Yellow Jackets She surrendered five runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out five.
Maegen Kavanagh started the game for West Chester. She lasted six and a third innings, allowing six hits and four runs while striking out four
West Virginia State tallied one home run on the day. Moore went for the long ball in the second inning.
The Yellow Jackets tallied six hits on the day. Moore and Swisher each racked up multiple hits for West Virginia State.
Game 3: West Chester 6, West Virginia State 5, F/7
West Virginia State's effort to come back from down five runs in the sixth inning came up just short, as they fell 6-5 to West Chester in Sunday's first game. The Yellow Jackets scored four runs in the failed comeback on a home run by Emma Ruth and a double by Emily Moore.
West Virginia State couldn't keep up with West Chester early in the game. The Golden Rams took the lead on a sacrifice fly in the second inning and then added three runs to their tally in the top of the fifth, 4-0.
The Yellow Jackets got a run across in the bottom of the fifth on a fielder's choice and then scored four runs in the sixth inning. Ruth and Moore each had RBIs in the big inning. West Chester had scored two runs on a misplayed bunt in the top of the inning to leave the comeback lacking, 6-5.
Reilly Gearhart got the win for the Golden Rams. She lasted five and a third innings, allowing four hits and four runs while striking out two and walking one. Jen Hanshaw threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Emilee Walker took the loss for West Virginia State. She lasted six innings, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out four.
The Yellow Jackets smacked one home run on the day. Ruth put one out in the sixth inning.
Shian Meeks went 2-for-3, including a double, at the plate to lead West Virginia State in hits.
Game 4: Shippensburg 5, West Virginia State 3, F/7Â
Tressa Kagarise earned the victory in the pitcher's circle for Shippensburg. She lasted seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out seven and walking one.
Emily Thompson took the loss for West Virginia State. She allowed seven hits and five runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out seven.
The Yellow Jackets launched one home run on the day. Kasey Murphy had a long ball in the fourth inning.
West Virginia State totaled seven hits. Sara Barrett and Paige Swisher each had multiple hits for WVSU.
The Raiders racked up eight hits in the game. Three players collected multiple hits for Shippensburg.
