BUCKHANNON, W.Va.-- An eight-run inning in game two helped the West Virginia Wesleyan (27-12-1, 17-5 MEC) softball team run-rule the Charleston Golden Eagles (25-17, 17-9 MEC) on Saturday (Apr. 23) at Culpepper Field.
 
Game One
The opening game featured a pitcher's duel throughout. The games first run would be scored by the Golden Eagles in the top half of the third inning. After UC led the inning off with a double, two batters later, the Golden Eagles were able to plate the runner on a SAC fly to right field.
 
Hudson was able to keep the score there until the bottom of the fifth when the 'Cats finally broke into the score column. Grace Hightower reached base on an error by the second baseman and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Alli Robinson stepped up to the plate and singled through the left side to score Hightower from second and tie up the game.
 
Molly Osborne kept the game tied at one in the sixth when the Golden Eagles attempted a squeeze play but were denied on a great defensive play by Osborne.
 
In the seventh, UC had runners on second and third with one out when a SAC fly to centerfield broke the tie and helped the Golden Eagles secure the win in game one.
 
Hannah Hudson (14-4) will receive a quality start in the contest but was credited with the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and striking out seven Golden Eagles in her complete game.
 
Game Two
After a quiet game one, the Bobcat bats erupted for eight runs in the first inning of game two. Back-to-back singles by Hightower and Osborne led off the game, Robinson dropped down a bunt, and Hightower beat the throw from the UC pitcher for the game's first run. Morgan Norris was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 2-0. Destiny Alvarado would rip a single to center to score Taylor Swartz from third and give the 'Cats a 3-0 advantage.
 
The scoring onslaught wouldn't finish there. After a Bella Posey rbi groundout, Lauren Niglio ripped a two rbi single to right-center to score Alvarado and Norris and make it 6-0. Batting for the second time in the inning, Hightower would burn the UC centerfielder for a triple and score Niglio from first base. Osborne would conclude the scoring as she would score Hightower on an infield single to make it 8-0 after one.
 
Swartz would add another run to the total in the bottom of the third, as she singled to left field to score Osborne after she reached on a single of her own.
 
The run-rule would come into effect after the top of the fifth inning as the 'Cats closed out a 9-0 victory.