By Caitie Smith
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Virginia State Softball split its conference series with West Liberty Saturday at WLU Softball Complex, shutting out the Hilltoppers 3-0 in the first contest before suffering their first loss of league play, 6-3.
The Yellow Jackets improve to 10-6 on the season and 7-1 in Mountain East Conference action.
Junior
Emma Ruth led WVSU at the plate, posting four hits on the day with two RBI and a run.
GAME 1: WVSU 3, WEST LIBERTY 0
After a quick two outs began the contest, the Yellow Jackets used a trio of singles to break onto the scoreboard early, plating two runs in the opening frame. After senior outfielder
Paige Scruggs singled to keep the inning alive for WVSU, Ruth singled to advance Scruggs, who then scored on a Hilltopper miscue for the first run of the contest. Ruth then came home on another single, this one from catcher
Madison Rafuson, for an early 2-0 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets added an insurance run the next inning, as senior outfielder
Danielle Lebsock boarded via hit-by-pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman
Emele Clark, and scored on a hit from senior
Sarah Barrett.
WVSU threatened to add cushion later, stranding two runners in each the third and fifth innings.
Junior
Kasey Murphy picked up the win, hurling a complete game shutout and fanning six while not surrendering a walk.
GAME 2: WEST LIBERTY 6, WVSU 3
The Hilltoppers took the lead right away, scoring a run in the first, but the Yellow Jackets plated three in the top of the third to take control.
Freshman
Lindsey Phares singled to lead off the inning, and scored the next batter after a two-base throwing error from Lebsock, who scored herself two batters later on a sacrifice fly. A Ruth infield single brought home Scruggs, who reached earlier in the inning via single.
A West Lib double in the fourth narrowed the Yellow Jackets' lead to 3-2, and the Hilltoppers then scored four times in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead.
UP NEXT
WVSU returns to action Wednesday, hosting UVA Wise in a doubleheader at Lady Jackets Field. The Yellow Jackets swept the Cavaliers in early March in Wise, Va. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
