SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. β The West Liberty University softball team won its fourth straight game on Tuesday, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader at perennial NCAA Division II Atlantic Region power Shepherd.
Β Β Β Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (8-8) took a 5-1 decision in the opener before riding the strong left arm of southpaw ace Annie Paterson to a 6-0 shutout in the finale.
Β Β Β Paterson, a returning All-Region standout, delivered a dominant performance in the circle. The hard-throwing lefty held the Rams (3-5) to just three singles while striking out nine Shepherd batters and walking only one.
Β Β Β The WLU veteran helped herself at the plate, as well, breaking up a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth and tacking on the final insurance tally with a run-scoring single in the fifth.
Β Β Β Paterson's RBI single scored Katie Beeman, who had doubled home a pair of runs earlier in the frame. Kieran Johnson had an RBI single during West Liberty's three-run fourth inning.
Β Β Β In the first game, the Black and Gold scored all five of their runs with two out in the top of the third. Kieran Johnson and Madge Weidner wrapped two-run singles around a walk to Grace Swigart.
Β Β Β With Swigart on third, Jairika Baylor pinch-ran for Weidner at first. Baylor and Swigart worked a double-steal to perfection with Swigart crossing the plate for the fifth run of the inning.
Β Β Β That was more than enough run support for Riley Bennington and Taylor Bonnett. Bennington hurled the first four innings to get the win, striking out three without walking a batter. Bonnett came on in the fifth to earn the save with three scoreless innings of one-hit relief.
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SOFTBALL
West Liberty 5, Shepherd 1
West LibertyΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 005 000 0 - 5Β 6Β 0
ShepherdΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 000 100 0 - 1Β 6Β 1
Β Β Β Β WLU: Bennington wp (3SO, 0W), Bonnett (5) (3SO, 2W) and M.Blair. Weidner S, 2rbi; Johnson S, 2rbi
Β Β Β Β SU: Laing lp (0SO, 2W), Ruffner (3) (3SO, 3W) and Mantz. Davis 2S; Seymour S, rbi
Β
West Liberty 6, Shepherd 0
West LibertyΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 000 330 0 - 6Β 7Β 2
ShepherdΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 000 000 0 - 0Β 3Β 2
Β Β Β Β WLU: Paterson wp (9SO, 1W) and M.Blair. Paterson D, S, 2rbi; Beeman D, 2rbi; Johnson S, rbi
Β Β Β Β SU: McNatt lp (1SO, 2W), Ruffner (5) (2SO, 0W) and Mantz.