Institute, W. Va. -- West Virginia State dropped the opener but bounced back in game two to split a road doubleheader with West Virginia Wesleyan on Thursday.

In the opener, Wesleyan used a three-run second inning to take control early and secured a 5-1 win over the Lady Jackets Jackets. All three second-inning runs were unearned, aided by a pair of WVSU fielding errors. Sydney Shamblin scored the lone run for State in the third, reaching on a walk and scoring from third as Chloe Treadway was caught steaing second base. WVSU was held to just two hits—one each from Kylie Price and Autumn Hall—by Wesleyan starter K. Stoffel, who went the distance with seven strikeouts. Hall took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs across 5.2 innings.

In game two, State's offense came alive with an 11-hit performance, taking an early 5-0 lead through two innings and holding off a late Wesleyan rally to earn an 8-7 victory. Emily Bechtel led the charge, going 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, and three RBIs, while Emma Pauley added two hits, two RBIs, and a stolen base. The Lady Jackets scored four in the second and tacked on three more in the fourth, capitalizing on four Wesleyan errors. Kaleigh Murphy earned the win, throwing 6.2 innings and striking out five before Kelley Bickers recorded the final out for the save. Wesleyan's late push in the fifth and seventh innings fell short with the tying run left on base.

WVSU will be back in action tomorrow at Davis & Elkins for a MEC doubleheader matchup at 1:00PM and 3:00PM.