INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State completed the mid-week sweep of former WVIAC foe Bluefield State, requiring only 10 innings to complete both games with a 14-1 win and a 13-2 win. State continued to hit the ball well, hitting 26 base hits over the two games. WVSU has had nine base hits in 7 of the nine games played so far this season.

Post Game Records:
WVSU: 5-4
Bluefield State: 3-6

Game 1: WVSU 14, Bluefield State 1 (5 innings)
Bluefield State struck first in the top of the second with an RBI single. State answered back in a big way, plating seven runs. Kerigan Moore got on base via a fielding error that scored Clarke Moore. Emma Ruth then slammed a two RBI single in the right center field gap that scored both Moore and Shoemaker. Autumn Thompson then hit a long base hit into right field that was bobbled by the right fielder, allowing her to get to second base and scoring Ruth. Kasey Murphy then blasted a shot over the left center field wall to bring in Thompson. Emma Pauley later walked and stole second, scoring Olivia McClain on the delayed double steal.

WVSU scored three more in the third inning with a Ruth RBI single and a Murphy two RBI double. Ruth hit a bases clearing double in the fourth that scored three and Thompson hit a base hit through the right side of the infield to score Ruth. Bluefield State got a runner on after a fielding error but never threatened in the top of the fifth.

Shoemaker tossed the win in five innings of work, giving up just three hits and an earned run. She walked two and struck out one. Ruth went 4-for-4 with a double, three runs, and six RBIs. Thompson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Megan Shoemaker went 3-for-3, scoring thrice.

Game 2: WVSU 13, Bluefield State 2 (5 innings)
WVSU scored all 13 runs before Bluefield State got on the scoreboard. Emma Ruth reached on a dropped fly ball in the bottom of the second that allowed two runs to score. Thompson hit a sac fly to score Kerigan Moore. Kasey Murphy hit an RBI single to score Ruth and McClain hit a two RBI single that scored Addi Dillow and Kasey Murphy.

Dillow hit an RBI single in the bottom of the third, followed by a Thompson bases-loaded walk to force Clarke Moore home. Kasey Murphy then jacked another over the left field wall, this time with the bases juiced to put WVSU up by 12 after three innings. Jayde Baron bunted a single towards third base that scored Kerigan Moore to wrap up the Yellow Jacket scoring. 

Bluefield State broke up the shutout in the top of the fifth but could only plate two run, ending game two early.

Autumn Hall picked up her first win of the season, tossing five innings and giving up no earned runs. She struck out three batters. Dillow went 3-for-3 at the dish with an RBI and two runs. Kasey Murphy went 2-for-2 with five RBIs and two runs including the grand slam in the fourth inning. Hall walked twice and got a hit in her only official at-bat.

Up Next
State has the next two weeks off, then will travel to Cedarville, Ohio to take on the Cedarville Yellow Jackets on March 15. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 2:00 pm.