INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State's softball team desperately needed a win against the second-best team in the south division of the Mountain East Conference to keep any hope of possible post-season action alive, and they managed to come away with a split after dropping a game one 2-1 decision that saw a lot of defense, and taking a game two 5-4 win in a game with a lot of offense.

Post game records
WVSU: 14-27, 8-20 MEC
WV Wesleyan: 37-12, 20-6 MEC

Game one: WV Wesleyan 2, WVSU 1
Game one only took 68 minutes to play a full seven inning ballgame. Each team only managed one extra-base hit each and each team only scored in a single inning. Kasey Murphy struck out four Bobcats in the loss.

The Bobcats hit a one-out single up the middle of the infield in the bottom of the first but go no further than first. 

State got their first base runner of the game when Emma Pauley drew a two-out walk on five pitches in the top of the second inning. She didn't get further than first base. 

The next four half innings saw three batters come to plate each time and three batters sat back down.

In the bottom of the third, the Bobcats got a lead-off single, a sac bunt, then a two-run homer, 2-0.

Emma Pauley hit a one-out triple down the right field line in the following half inning. Clarke Moore attempted a squeeze sac bunt, but the throw home was late, scoring Ruth, 2-1. 

Kasey Murphy hit a lead off single in the top of the seventh then stole second, but two strikeouts and a popup later, the game was over.

Game two: WVSU 5, WV Wesleyan 4
In contrast to the front-side of the doubleheader, WVSU scored first when Kasey Murphy drove a single into center field, scoring Emele Clark.

The Bobcats tied it up in the bottom of the first. State went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. The Bobcats hit a lead-off single but the pinch runner was called out due to a look-back rule violation. 

In the top of the fifth, Avery Contrerasled off with a single, but was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double. Addi Dillow and Kerigan Moore each singled followed by a bases-clearing double by Ruth to put State up 3-1. 

In the top of the sixth, Addi Dillow belted a single into left field to score Pauley and Kasey Murphy, 5-1. WV Wesleyan made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh by scoring three runs to close the game to 5-4, but starter Autumn Hall was pulled and Autumn Thompson entered the circle needing to get just one out with the tying runner on first. Thompson allowed a single, but the following batter flied to center, giving State the win.

Up Next
State returns home for the final two double headers of the season. Fairmont State will visit on Saturday, April 29 while Frostburg State comes to Lady Jackets Field on Sunday, April 30. The Fairmont State doubleheader is slated for 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm while the Frostburg State doubleheader is a 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm first pitch.