GLENVILLE, W.Va. — In the first day of the MEC/PSAC challenge held at the Sue Morris Sports Complex on Saturday, West Virginia State lost their first game against Clarion University in a 19-15 shootout before coming from behind to steal the game in the seventh inning against Slippery Rock in the nightcap, 12-11.

Post-game Records
WVSU: 1-4
Clarion: 2-2
Slippery Rock: 0-2

Game 1 - Clarion 19, WVSU 15
In a game that took almost two-and-a-half hours, the two teams combined for 34 runs, 32 hits, six home runs, and eight errors.

State jumped out to an 11 run lead in the first two innings with an Olivia McClain single to score Emma Ruth, followed by an Emma Pauley bases loaded slam over the left center field wall. Emma Ruth capped the scoring in the first with a 2-RBI double to left center that scored Kerrigan Moore and Avery Contreras. 

Kasey Murphy stole second base in the second inning drawing a throw and allowing Autumn Thompson to score for the second straight inning. McClain sent a comeback that scored Kasey Murphy followed by consecutive sac flies by Jayde Baron and Emma Ruth scoring McClain and Pauley.

Clarion then scored seven runs in the bottom of the second, five runs in the third and three runs in the fourth, putting State down 15-11. Ruth scored on a fielding error in the fifth and Contreras singled to cut the deficit in half, but Clarion hit back-to-back jacks to take a 19-13 lead. Kasey Murphy plated two more with her second home run of the game but couldn't get any closer.

Thompson was charged with the loss after giving up 12 runs in two-and-a-third. Ruth went 3-for-4 and two doubles, two runs, and three RBIs while McClain went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs with two RBIs. The Jackets stranded seven runners in the game.

Game 2 - WVSU 12, Slippery Rock 11
WVSU's bats were quiet for the first five innings while Slippery Rock's were loud, scoring seven runs on eight hits and three Yellow Jacket errors. In the bottom of the fifth, Slippery Rock pulled their starter that had been dominating the Yellow Jacket offense leading to an Addi Dillow single and a Thompson walk. Kasey Murphy then faced down a 1-1 pitch and sent it screaming over the left field wall, cutting the deficit to four runs.

Slippery Rock plated three more runs in the top of the sixth putting the Jackets down eight, in danger of ending the game early. Ruth hit a double to score Baron terminating the eight-run rule. Moore then scored on a wild pitch and a DIllow ground out scored Ruth. Another pitching change and McClain doubled, scoring Thompson followed by a Pauley bases-clearing double scoring McClain and Kasey Murphy. Contreras grounded out for the second out of the inning and scoring Pauley, leaving the Jackets with only a single run to come back from after six innings, 11-10.

Slippery Rock went down in order in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half, Ruth singled, but Moore was thrown out at home plate trying to score from first. Dillow singled to set up Kasey Murphy who launched a double to complete the comeback when Dillow and Ruth both scored.

Every Yellow Jacket hitter picked up at least one hit. Ruth, Dillow, and Kasey Murphy all went 2-for-4 and all three scored twice. Kasey Murphy also picked up five RBIs. Murphy threw 172 pitches in the win, giving up 11 hits and 11 runs, only six of which were earned. Murphy struck out eight in the game. The Yellow Jackets struggled defensively for the second consecutive game, committing four errors to Slippery Rock's two, but made up for it with their bats, belting out 14 hits compared to 11 for Slippery Rock.

Up Next
WVSU continues in the MEC/PSAC challenge Sunday afternoon against Seton Hill and IUP at 3:00 and 5:30 pm respectively.