INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State's softball team will face off against the West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats and the Davis & Elkins Senators on Sunday and Monday in an MEC clash between the top three teams in the MEC South. WVWC will enter Sunday's doubleheader as the top team in the south with a record of 18-9-1, 8-2 in the conference and D&E currently holds a 13-18 mark, 9-3 in the conference.

This weekend's doubleheaders were moved to Lady Jackets Field after inclement weather came through the state this past weekend. 

THE BUZZ ON THE YELLOW JACKETS

WVSU is now 14-12, 11-3 in the Mountain East after dropping both ends of a midweek twin bill against the University of Charleston. The Jackets slipped to second in the division after Wednesday's losses. Pitchers Kasey Murphy and Autumn Thompson will likely lead the charge inside the circle today. Murphy is 5-5 on the season with a 4.87 ERA and is holding opponents to a .280 batting average. Thompson is 3-3 with a 4.46 ERA. The pairing have combined for 21 of the Jackets's 26 starts. 

Lindsey Phares leads the team with the bat, hitting at a .386 clip. She's tagged two out of the park and knocked in 13 RBIs. She leads the conference in two-baggers with 13. Graduate student Emily Moore has batted in the designated player position for most of the season, where she is hitting at a .339 batting average.

Skipper Mattie Best currently has 93 victories at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS

West Virginia Wesleyan is currently ranked first in the MEC South and come into Sunday's matchup leading the conference in both batting average (.319) and ERA (2.32).

Sophomore Grace Hightower bats at an impressive .423 clip (44-for-104) and leads the conference in hits. Junior Alli Robinson hits at a .391 batting average and leads the conference with nine jacks out of the park.

Senior Hannah Hudson will likely start one of the games for the Bobcats in the circle. She leads the conference in ERA with 1.25. She has pitched five shutouts and opponents hit at a .196 average. Junior Abigail O'Shields will also likely start. She holds a 2.83 ERA and only allows a .190 average.

SCOUTING THE SENATORS

The Senators are currently ranked third in the MEC South.

Freshman Mia Mendoza leads the Senator bats with a .394 batting average, going 41-for-104, with 22 RBIs, 23 runs scored, and two home runs. Linzey Allard, also a freshman, hits at a .345 batting average. She has 20 RBIs, 21 runs scored, and five home runs.

Senior Jenna Evans is a likely starter for the Senators. She holds a 4.05 ERA, and is 5-6 on the season. She has struck out 30 on the season, allowed 28 walks and eight home runs. Senior Ava Willis has made 14 appearances on the season and has started seven games.  She holds a 5.58 ERA, striking out nine, and allowing 20 walks.

Live stats and live streaming will be available for both matchups at wvsuyellowjackets.com.