CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan (21-10-1, 11-3) softball team swept a doubleheader at Charleston (18-14, 10-6) on Monday (April 11) afternoon at UC Softball Field in Charleston, W.Va.
 
Inside Game One
Charleston struck first in the bottom of the third with an RBI base hit. The Bobcats responded in the top of the fourth with a trio of runs. With one out, Morgan Norris ripped a single to left. Alli Robinson followed Norris with another base knock that put runners at second and first. Swartz cleared the bases with a three-run dinger to right center field and put Wesleyan up 3-1. The 'Cats added a run in the fifth inning after a Grace Hightower single and a Molly Osborne sacrifice fly.
 
Hannah Hudson was crafty in the circle and kept the UC bats in check. Hudson tossed a complete game and struck out four Golden Eagles. The senior pitcher surrendered just one run in her outing and the Bobcats secured a 4-1 game one win.
 
Robinson went 3-for-3 at the plate. Hightower and Norris added hits and Swartz provided a clutch four-bagger. Osborne collected an RBI from the sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
 
Inside Game Two
The home team got on the scoreboard first after an RBI groundout. Lauren Niglio generated the 'Cats first hit in the third inning. With one out in the fourth inning, Gracie Payne roped a single to second base. In the next at bat, Alli Robinson stroked a single to left field that put a runner in scoring position. Taylor Swartz reached on a UC error and Payne wheeled around third to score WVWC's first run.
 
With two outs in the sixth, Swartz drew a walk. Alvarado singled and Swartz advanced to third base. Kaitlyn Rizor delivered a clutch pinch-hit knock to score Swartz and put the 'Cats on top, 2-1. Rizor's hit proved to be the difference in game two, as WVWC completed the sweep and won by a margin of one run.
 
The Golden Eagles had no answer for southpaw Abigail O'Shields. The lefty punched out 11 hitters, good for a season-high. O'Shields surrendered just three hits and one earned run and collected her seventh win of the season.
 
Payne contributed a multi-hit game for the 'Cats offense. Osborne, Robinson, Rizor, Niglio and Destiny Alvarado all added a knock for WVWC. Swartz and Rizor drove in the two runs for the Bobcats.
 
Up Next
West Virginia Wesleyan softball is scheduled to travel to Salem on Wednesday (April 13) in a midweek non conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.