ELKINS, W.Va. – Alli Robinson's two-run dinger proved to be the difference in game one as the West Virginia Wesleyan (29-14-1, 19-7) softball team split a road doubleheader versus Davis & Elkins (23-24, 19-9) on Monday (April 25) afternoon at Joni Smith Field.
 
Inside Game One
With two outs in the first inning, Robinson smoked a double down the left field line. The Bobcats could not cash in and were scoreless after the first. Hannah Hudson walked two batters in the opening inning but worked her way out of the jam to keep the Senators off the scoreboard. Morgan Norris led off the second inning with a single to left and Kiley Turner was plunked by a pitch. The Bobcats had runners at the corners with two outs but were held off by D&E. The Senators doubled to start the second inning but could not score.
 
Molly Osborne ripped a single with one out in the third. Robinson stepped into the box next and hammered her 11^th home run of the season to left center that got the 'Cats on the board. The first two D&E hitters walked to lead off the bottom of the third. Hudson stepped up and struck out three Senators in a row. Wesleyan held a 2-0 lead after three innings of play.
 
D&E managed to get a runner at second with two outs in the fourth inning, but D&E left the runner on base and could not capitalize. The Senators started the sixth inning with a double. Hudson recorded a strikeout on the next hitter and induced a pair of groundouts to keep the shutout going. The 'Cats went down in order in the seventh inning. The Senators brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning after a walk. Hudson collected the final out and the Bobcats won a low-scoring game, 2-0.
 
Robinson and Norris each had multiple hits for WVWC. Taylor Swartz, Alyssa Souders, Destiny Alvarado and Swartz all recorded hits. In the circle, Hudson struck out 10 and walked six.
 
Inside Game Two
Wesleyan went 1-2-3 in the first inning. The Senators jumped out to an early lead with a two-run home run. The Bobcats fought back and tied things up in the top of the second inning. Norris led off with a walk. Two batters later, Souders singled to center field and Norris advanced to third because of an D&E error. Norris scored on the next play and Souders ended up at third with two outs. Bella Posey delivered a two-out knock that evened the score.
 
Abigail O'Shields sat down the Senators in order in the second inning. Grace Hightower led off the third with a single. Osborne advanced Hightower to second via a sac bunt. Robinson drew a walk to put runners at first and second with one out. WVWC could not take the lead and the score remained tied at two. D&E loaded the bases in the third inning but were held scoreless by O'Shields.
 
The tie was broken in the bottom of the fifth inning when the home team lifted a grand slam with two outs to take the lead. The Senators added a pair of runs in the sixth inning to add to their lead. The Bobcats scored two runs in the seventh inning after an error and an Osborne RBI single. D&E earned the split after winning game two, 8-4.
 
Up Next
WVWC softball returns to the diamond on Friday (April 29) for a home doubleheader versus Concord beginning at 2 p.m.