SALEM, Va. – Two huge sixth frames by the West Virginia State University softball team ensured that the Yellow Jackets remained undefeated through the first day of the MEC Tournament at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex. With the score tied at one-apiece after 5.5 innings, West Virginia State scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the first game against Notre Dame College, 4-1. Then, after going down by two to Frostburg State in the second game, WVSU rallied in the bottom of the sixth once again. This time, five runs were posted in the half inning to achieve victory versus the Bobcats, 5-2.

Game 1: WVSU 4, NDC 1, Final/7

• Paige Scruggs went 2-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in to give Kasey Murphy the run support that she needed.
• Murphy (10-7) tossed a complete game in which she gave up only four hits and one run.
• West Virginia State committed zero errors in the field.

Quick Recap

The Yellow Jackets grabbed the lead in their first time at bat. After Sarah Barrett reached base with a walk, Scruggs doubled into right center to score Barrett all the way from first base, 1-0.

Neither team was able to round bases again until the fifth inning when Notre Dame's Fording homered with nobody on base, 1-1.

Emily Moore pinch hit in the bottom of the sixth with runners on first and second. She singled up the middle to drive in the go-ahead run, 2-1. Later in the half frame, Scruggs came up to bat with two outs and runners on second and third. She singled up the middle to clear the bases and give WVSU a three-run cushion going into the seventh, 4-1.

Murphy gave up a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, but then forced three consecutive groundouts to finish off the game.

Game 2: WVSU 5, FSU 2, Final/7

• The scoring effort by WVSU was spread out with five different Yellow Jackets driving in one run each.
• Emma Ruth and Autumn Thompson both collected two hits to lead West Virginia State.
• Thompson gave up two runs in the early innings but kept the Bobcats off the scoreboard for the last four frames to make room for the comeback.

Quick Recap

Frostburg State's Sam Carver came up with RBI-singles in the first and third innings to give the Bobcats the upper hand early on, 2-0.

Through five frames, the Yellow Jackets only had two hits and did not look likely to score. Regardless, they still had it in them to rally in the sixth like they had done in the first game of the day.

Emele Clark singled in the leadoff spot to start the comeback in the bottom of the sixth. She stole second before Moore had the chance to double into right field and bring her home, 2-1. Barrett then pinch ran so, when Scruggs singled into left field, she was able to score from second, 2-2. Madison Rafuson drove in Scruggs with another RBI-single to put West Virginia State on top, 3-2. Two more runs were then tacked on with an RBI-single from Thompson and a sac fly by Murphy, 5-2.

Thompson allowed two base runners after getting the first out in the top of the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate. She did not succumb the pressure, however, and forced two straight groundouts to end the contest.

Up Next
Tomorrow, May 8: vs. West Liberty | Field 1 | 2 p.m.

Click here for complete coverage of the 2021 MEC Softball Tournament.