Hilltoppers, Charleston Divide Doubleheader
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Mountain East Conference softball powers Charleston and West Liberty split an inter-divisional doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the WLU Softball Complex.
Coach Herb Minch's North Division-leading Hilltoppers (28-12, 22-8) dropped a 5-2 decision to the South Division Golden Eagles (28-10, 21-7) in the opener but rebounded with a 2-0 shutout victory in the nightcap.
Senior ace Makenzie Amend led the way for the Black and Gold in the second game, coming out on top in a pitcher's duel with Charleston ace Danielle Bauer.
Amend went the distance in firing a 6-hit shutout, striking out six UC batters while issuing only one walk. The Golden Eagles threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two out, but Amend retired the next batter on a routine fly ball to finish off the win.
West Liberty hit the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when Annie Paterson broke up Bauer's no-hit bid with a ringing double down the left field line. Riley Bennington, running for Paterson, moved up to third on an infield grounder and trotted home when pinch-hitter Katelynn Blair lined an RBI single to center.
The Hilltoppers added an insurance tally in the sixth when Katie Beeman's 2-out RBI single brought Kat Donzella sprinting home from second base.
In the opener, Charleston jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first two frames and the Hilltoppers couldn't claw their way back.
Donzella and Paterson each smacked out a pair of singles for the hosts while Beeman added an RBI double and Anna Welsh delivered a pinch-hit RBI single.
West Liberty closes out the regular season on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Notre Dame (Ohio).
SOFTBALL
Charleston 5, West Liberty 2
Charleston 120 020 0 – 5 9 2
West Liberty 001 010 0 – 2 6 4
UC: Bauer wp (9SO, 3W) and Lake. Eder D, S, rbi; Groe 2S, rbi; Bowman S, 2rbi; Martin S, rbi; Lake D
WLU: Bennington lp (5SO, 3W) and Donzella, M.Blair (5). Donzella 2S; Paterson 2S; Beeman D, rbi; Welsh S, rbi
West Liberty 2, Charleston 0
Charleston 000 000 0 – 0 6 0
West Liberty 000 011 x – 2 5 0
UC: Bauer lp (5SO, 0W), Hoppe (6) (0SO, 0W) and Lake. Rose 2S; Pinkerton 2S
WLU: Amend (6SO, 1W) and Donzella. Paterson D, S; K.Blair S, rbi; Beeman S, rbi