INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- West Virginia State dropped both ends of a Mountain East Conference softball doubleheader to Charleston on Wednesday, falling 7-3 in the opener and 3-2 in eight innings in the nightcap.

In game one, West Virginia State jumped out early with two runs in the second inning behind an RBI double from Cassidy Cummings and a sacrifice fly by Sydney Shamblin, then added another run in the fourth to take a brief lead. Autumn Hall led the Yellow Jackets with two hits, while Shamblin drove in two runs. However, Charleston answered with a four-run third inning and added three more in the fourth, highlighted by a three-run homer from Kayla Moran. Despite drawing four walks and scattering five hits, WVSU couldn't keep pace as Charleston's Addison Mass struck out 12 over a complete game to secure the win.

In the second game, West Virginia State showed resilience in a tightly contested extra-inning battle. The Yellow Jackets struck first in the opening inning on an RBI single from Cummings and later regained the lead in the sixth on a solo home run by Olivia Bell. Hall and Bell each recorded two hits as WVSU outhit Charleston 8-7, while K. Murphy delivered a strong complete-game effort in the circle, allowing just three runs (two earned) over 7.2 innings. Charleston tied the game in the sixth capitalizing on a defensive miscue, then won it in the eighth on a sacrifice fly after a leadoff double. Despite the strong offensive showing and solid pitching, WVSU was unable to come away with a split.

WVSU Softball will look to bounce back hosting West Liberty Saturday, March 28 at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.