INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan Softball team picked up two South divisional wins today as they defeated West Virginia State in a doubleheader on the road. The Bobcats won 7-5 in the first game and 6-2 in game two. WVWC had 10 hits in each game.

Game 1
The Bobcats put together some two-out offense in the top of the 1^st as Alli Robinson doubled Morgan Norris in after she was HBP. West Virginia State's Emma Ruth answered on the second pitch she saw, hitting a HR to left-center to tie it up. An error by the Bobcat defense and a sacrifice fly to left gave WVSU the lead after an inning of play.

Alyssa Souders started the top of the 2^nd with a double in the right-center gap and scored on an errant throw from the shortstop to tie the game once again. Hallie Dinklocker gave the Bobcats the lead back when she doubled down the left field line to make it 3-2. The Bobcats produced more offense in the top of the 3^rd with a pair of one-out singles but couldn't muster any runs off of it. A single by Kaitlyn Rizor and an error by the shortstop allowed Grace Smith to get on with no outs for the Bobcats in the top of the 4^th. Morgan Norris took full advantages, ripping a single to left to plate two runs for Wesleyan.

WV State got a Yellow Jacket to third after starting the inning with a walk but Hannah Hudson was able to retire the side on a groundout. In the top of the 5^th, Andie Dizon walked and Alyssa Souders pulled a double down the left field line to get in scoring position. An error by the first baseman allowed Dizon to score and on the following play, Jenna Christopher and Alyssa Souders would be doubled up to end the inning. WVSU cut into four-run deficit with a 2-run HR to left in the bottom of the 5^th. Two more Yellow Jackets were on with two outs but Hannah Hudson got a swinging strikeout to close the inning.

After Hallie Dinklocker started the 6^th with a walk and was moved to second on a sac bunt from Taylor Swartz, Morgan Norris added her to RBI total with a single to left field. With a leadoff single and a walk to start the bottom of the 6^th, Kendall Stoffel was brought in to relieve Hannah Hudson. An error by the Bobcat defense surrendered a run as WVSU made it 7-5 after six innings. In the bottom of the 7^th, Stoffel shut the door with three consecutive strikeouts to take the win.

Kasey Murphy had 2 RBI for the Yellow Jackets on her 2-run HR and Emma Pauley led the team with two hits. Murphy was in the circle for WVSU as well, taking the loss while going seven innings and surrendering seven runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks.

Morgan Norris was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with 3 RBI for the Bobcats. Hallie Dinklocker, Alli Robinson and Savannah O'Shields all added an RBI as well. Hannah Hudson took the win, going five innings and giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and walking four. Kendall Stoffel pitched in relief and was awarded the save.

Game 2
Hallie Dinklocker started the second game by reaching first on an error by the shortstop. Taylor Swartz moved Dinklocker to second with a sac bunt and Alli Robinson was able to bring her home to make it 1-0. The Yellow Jackets were able to load the bases with two outs after a pair of singles and a walk, with Kendall Stoffel getting out of the early jam with a swinging strikeout. The Bobcats had a chance to add another run to the board in the top of the 2^nd but a groundout to second would end the top half of the inning.

In the top of the 3^rd, Taylor Swartz led the inning off with a single and Morgan Norris got on due to an error by the shortstop. Swartz would be brought home on an Alyssa Souders groundout and Kaitlyn Rizor singled up the middle to bring the Bobcat lead to 3-0. With one out in the bottom half of the 3^rd, WVSU had back-to-back singles which led to a 2-RBI double that cut the Wesleyan lead down to just one. The Bobcats put two runners in scoring position in the top of the 4^th as Hallie Dinklocker singled and Taylor Swartz doubled but they were left stranded on a flyout.

It would be a different story for Wesleyan in the top of the 5^th, loading the bases with one out and scoring consecutive runs on an error and RBI single from Hallie Dinklocker. Stoffel kept the lead at 5-2 after walking one in the bottom of the 5^th. The 6^th inning saw the Bobcats add another run to the board as Morgan Norris started the inning off with a single and Alli Robinson was HBP, allowing Kaitlyn Rizor to bring home the run.

In both the 6^th and 7^th innings, WV State generated late offense and put runners in scoring position, giving themselves opportunities to chip into the Wesleyan lead. Stoffel avoided any further damage, getting out of both innings unscathed and securing the doubleheader sweep with a 6-2 win.

Emele Clark and Autumn Thompson both had two hits and Kasey Murphy brought both runs in as she had 2 RBI. Autumn Thompson was handed the loss after seven innings of work, giving up six runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks.

Five different Bobcats recorded two hits and Kaitlyn Rizor led the team with 2 RBI. Kendall Stoffel was solid once again, going seven innings and giving up two runs (both earned) on six hits and walking three.

Up Next For The Bobcats
Wesleyan won't go far tomorrow as they head to Charleston to face the Golden Eagles for a huge doubleheader at 1 & 3 p.m.