ATHENS, W.Va. — WVSU softball took two from Concord to remain perfect in Mountain East play. The Yellow Jackets scored nine runs in a run-rule shortened game one, while the WVSU defense had to quell a late-game rally by the Mountain Lions to try and steal the second game. Kasey Murphy pitched the game one win, while Autumn Thompson hurled the game two victory.
Post-game records
WVSU: 7-9 (4-0 MEC)
Concord: 6-16 (0-4 MEC)
Game 1: WVSU 9, Concord 1 (6 innings)
Kerrigan Moore got a lead-off hit for the Yellow Jackets in the top of the first inning and moved into scoring position on a steal attempt that got behind the Concord catcher. Autumn Thompson hammered a long fly out to the right field foul line that advanced Kerrigan Moore to third base. A infield popup by Lindsay Phares brought Kasey Murphy. She watched strike three go by over the outside corner of the plate to strand Moore 60 feet from scoring the first run of the game.
Both teams went down in order in the second which brought up Layla Mendoza in the top of the third. She drilled a line drive single into left center field and was sacrificed over by Addi Dillow. Kerrigan Moore got aboard on a bunt single that caught the Mountain Lions off-guard. Autumn Thompson came to bat with runners on the corners. Thompson grounded into a fielder's choice to retire Mendoza coming home. Murphy and Phares both attacked left field with a pair of consecutive RBI singles scoring Kerrigan Moore and Thompson.
A two-out walk, a stolen base and a throwing error put a runner on third for the Mountain Lions, but she was stranded.
Emily Moore singled to right center to lead off the top of the fourth. Hannah Wilson pinch ran for her and scored on a Dillow RBI single up the middle. Kerrigan Moore walked and Thompson got hit by a pitch, loaded the bases and that chased Koller for the Mountain Lions. Phares flew out and left the bases loaded.
Concord scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-1. WVSU rattled off four runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth to go up eight runs, 9-1. Concord made it interesting with runners on first and second with nobody out, but WVSU recorded three consecutive outs and ended the game after six innings. Kasey Murphy picked up the win in the circle for the Yellow Jackets.
Game 2: WVSU 4, Concord 3
Autumn Thompson got the start for the Yellow Jackets in game two, opposing Concord's Caitlyn Bauer.
Neither team were able to get anyone across the plate in the first three innings, although WVSU were able to manage to squeak out two hits against Bauer by Murphy and Emma Ruth.
Phares smoked a lead-off double in the top of the fourth into left field. Murphy grounded out and pushed Phares to third. Two pitches later, Emma Ruth singled through the right side of the infield and pushed across the game's first run. Scruggs then hit an RBI single into center field, scoring Ruth. Moore was thrown out at the plate trying to score.
Concord partially answered in the bottom of the fourth to bring the Yellow Jacket lead down to 2-1.
In the top of the fifth, Autumn Thompson scorched an RBI double to left field that missed clearing the outfield fence by inches. Kerrigan Moore scored extending the WVSU lead to 3-1.
Leading off the top of the sixth, Emily Moore sent a screamer over the left field fence to extend the WVSU lead to 4-1 and Moore's second four-bagger of the season. The next three Yellow Jacket batters grounded out, struck out and flew out to end the frame. Concord had their first two runners aboard in the bottom half of the same inning, but couldn't score and going in to the final inning the Yellow Jacket lead remained at 4-1.
Concord faced a 3-2 count with two outs and a runner on third and the batter lined one down the right field line to score the runner with a triple. A Yellow Jacket throwing error scored another runner to make it 4-3, but the next batter lined straight to Phares and put the Concord rally to bed and complete the sweep.
Ruth had two hits and an RBI, Phares hit two doubles and Moore had two hits with a solo jack. Thompson walked away with the win on four strikeouts while giving up four walks.
WVSU opens home Mountain East play on Saturday, March 26 with a doubleheader against the West Liberty Hilltoppers. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available.
