INSTITUTE, W.Va. — The Yellow Jacket softball team recorded their fifth and sixth consecutive wins of the season at Lady Jackets Field on Sunday, shutting out the Pioneers in game one with an 8-0 run-rule shortened game one and an 8-7 come-from-behind victory in game two.
WVSU has now won 12 straight against the Pioneers, dating back to Apr. 21, 2018. During the streak, WVSU has outscored Glenville State, 90-19.
Postgame Records
WVSU: 14-10, 11-1 MEC
GSU: 6-18, 2-10 MEC
Game 1: WVSU 8, GSU 0 - 5 innings
GSU stranded five runners on base in the first two innings and came away with no runs to show for it. WVSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with two walks and an error. Paige Scruggs then hit into a fielder's choice when GSU attempted to get Emma Ruth out at the plate, but Ruth was ruled safe, giving the Yellow Jackets the 1-0 lead. The bases were left juiced when GSU recorded three consecutive outs.
WVSU then exploded in the bottom of the third after a two-out dropped fly ball allowed Ruth to reach for the second straight inning. Four singles and a double for the next five batters allowed five runs to come home, making the lead 6-0.
The State bottom of the fourth was led off by Autumn Thompson who got aboard on a full-count walk. Ruth hit into a fielder's choice but the shortstop failed to record the out on Thompson. Emily Moore walked the bases loaded and a passed ball scored Thompson from third. A sac fly by Murphy scored Ruth giving the Jackets the 8-0 lead to potentially end the game. Glenville State went down in order in the top of fifth, ending the game early.
Addi Dillow and Scruggs both collected two RBIs and Emma Ruth scored thrice. Kasey Murphy fanned five in the complete game shutout victory, only allowing four hits.
Game 2: WVSU 8, GSU 7
Autumn Thompson hit a deep double to center field, just missing clearing the fence in front of the scoreboard by inches. She wasn't on second for long, when on the very next at-bat, Lindsey Phares crushed one down the right field line that put her on third base, scoring Thompson.
The score stayed 1-0 until Glenville State hit a two-RBI double down the left field line, ending Thompson's day inside the circle. Then a bases loaded slam with Emilee Walker pitching put the Pioneers up by four runs, 6-2.
WVSU didn't get on the scoreboard again until the bottom of the fifth when Emily Moore picked up a one-out walk. Hannah Wilson pinch ran for Moore and promptly stole second base. Murphy got a base hit through the left side of the infield and when she attempted to steal second on the next at-bat, Hannah Wilson scampered home. Layla Mendoza reached base when a grounder squirted through the second baseman's legs and scored both Murphy and Scruggs, who got aboard earlier on a single.
Megan Shoemaker sat the Pioneers down in order in the top of the sixth inning.
Phares came up to bat with one out in the bottom of the sixth and hit a double straight up the gut and scored on Ruth's single through the left side of the infield. Scruggs came up with two outs and fired the team's second triple of the game down the right field line, scoring Murphy and E. Moore.
Glenville scored one more in the top of the seventh, but Shoemaker was up to the task and sat the final batter for the Pioneers down on strikes.
The two teams put on a hitting clinic, combining for 27 hits, 14 by WVSU. Murphy went 3-for-3 with three runs, Scruggs was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a triple, and a run. Phares went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple to go with an RBI and a run.
Shoemaker picked up her second win of the weekend, fanning four.
WVSU visits their arch-nemesis, the University of Charleston, on Wednesday for a mid-week doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 4:00. Live stats and live video will be available.
