SALEM, Va. -- West Virginia State battled back with runs in the third and fourth innings, but a late Fairmont State surge proved too much as the Yellow Jackets fell 10-2 in the opening round of the MEC Softball Championship at James Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia.
WVSU showed early promise in the opening inning when
Autumn Hall singled and
Clarke Moore advanced into scoring position after a Fairmont State error and stolen base, but the Jackets were unable to capitalize. Fairmont State broke through with a four-run second inning before State answered in the third.
Sydney Shamblin opened the frame with a single and
Gianna Sloan-Lebron later scored on an RBI single by Moore to trim the deficit to 4-1.
Baylee Smith continued the momentum in the fourth with a solo home run to left-center field, cutting the lead to 4-2 and giving the Yellow Jackets life midway through the contest.
Hope Sizemore provided solid relief work for WVSU, tossing 2.1 innings while allowing just two runs and helping keep the Jackets within striking distance entering the fifth inning. However, Fairmont State erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by RBI hits from B. Hess and E. Paul, to put the game away early. Moore, Smith, Hall, and Shamblin each recorded hits for West Virginia State, while Smith finished with a home run and Moore added an RBI. Sloan-Lebron also swiped a base and scored a run in the effort for the Yellow Jackets.
WVSU looks to keep the season going tomorrow in a win or go home game against West Liberty, scheduled for 2:30 PM.
