Bobcats Snap WLU's 12-Game Winning Streak
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team's 12-game winning streak came to an end here Sunday as West Virginia Wesleyan swept a Mountain East Conference doubleheader at the WLU Softball Complex.
The Bobcats (12-8, 12-8) took a 5-2 decision in the opener before outlasting the Hilltoppers (21-11, 13-7) in the second game, 7-5 in eight innings.
In the second game, Wesleyan's Molly Osborne delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the eighth to snap a 5-5 tie and finish off the sweep for the visitors.
West Liberty had battled back from an early 4-1 deficit to take a 5-4 lead after four innings but the Bobcats scratched out a single run in the top of the fifth to even the count.
Katie Beeman singled twice and drove in a run while Allie Cook singled and chased home a run with a sacrifice fly.
Annie Paterson gave WLU an early 1-0 lead in the opener with an RBI double off the base of the wall in the bottom of the second but the Bobcats scored three unearned runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good.
Lauryn King's two-run homer made it 5-1 Wesleyan in the top of the seventh. Beeman ripped an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to conclude the scoring.
Prior to the doubleheader, the Hilltoppers held a Senior Day ceremony to honor their graduating seniors from 2020. Audrey Meloun, Kate Meloun, Kelly Mullins and Kaitlyn Stress could not have a Senior Day last year due to the season being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The West Liberty women will try to start another winning streak on Wednesday when they host Ohio County rival Wheeling in a 3 p.m. twinbill at the WLU Softball Complex.
SOFTBALL
W.Va. Wesleyan 5, West Liberty 2
W.Va. Wesleyan 000 300 2 – 5 5 3
West Liberty 010 000 1 – 2 3 1
WVW: O'Shields wp (2SO, 4W) and Posey. King HR, 2rbi
WLU: Paterson lp (6SO, 5W), Bonnett (7) (1SO, 0W) and Donzella. Beeman D, rbi; Paterson D, rbi
W.Va. Wesleyan 7, West Liberty 5
W.Va. Wesleyan 040 010 02 – 7 10 3
West Liberty 102 200 00 – 5 6 1
WVW: Maltby wp (2SO, 5W) and Turner. Clark HR, D, 2rbi; Osborne D, S, 4rbi; Cowart 2S, rbi; Hightower 2S
WLU: Bennington (4SO, 2W), Amend (5) (2SO, 0W), Bonnett lp (2SO, 1W) and Donzella.