STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The West Virginia Wesleyan Softball team lost to East Stroudsburg today 1-0 in the Atlantic Regional Pod 1 Championship, putting an end to a remarkable season for the 'Cats. This defeat was just the third time that the Bobcats were shutout this season.

The Bobcats went down 1-2-3 in the top of the 1^st on three-straight flyouts to the outfield. East Stroudsburg threatened in the bottom of the 1^st, getting a runner to third but Abigail O'Shields would induce another flyout to end the scoring chance for the Warriors. Kaitlyn Rizor drove one out to deep left field, eventually dying at the warning track and closing the top half of the 2^nd.

ESU started the bottom of the 2^nd with a single down the left field line and a walk. After O'Shields bounced back with a strikeout, ESU executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position with one out. O'Shields forced a popup in the infield but a line drive on the next play got past Kaitlyn Rizor at second base to plate the first run of the game. With the 'Cats going down in order once again in the top of the 3^rd, East Stroudsburg led the bottom half of the 3^rd with a double to shallow center. The Warriors were forced into a pop up, ground out and another pop up to leave yet another runner stranded in scoring position.

Grace Smith had the first hit of the game for 'Cats in the top of the 4^th, lining one down the first base line that ricocheted off the first baseman's glove. Pinch runner Maya Reyes stole second to get in scoring position, however a flyout to the shortstop halted the scoring opportunity. After O'Shields worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 4^th, the Bobcats led the top of the 5^th with a bloop single by Alli Robinson and an infield single on a bunt by Kaitlyn Rizor. On the next play, Wesleyan attempted to bunt the runners over but a force play at third put a stop to the sacrifice. Alyssa Souders nearly tied the game up with a liner to the outfield but the second baseman made a great play to catch the liner and turn the double play at first.

Hannah Hudson relieved O'Shields at the start of the 5^th, striking out one and keeping the deficit at one. In the top of the 6^th, Taylor Swartz drew a one out walk and Morgan Norris hit a two out single to put runners at first and second for the second-straight inning. Andie Dizon just got under it, flying out to center to end the top half of the inning. Hudson pitched another strong inning of relief as the Bobcats still trailed 1-0 going into the final inning. The first two batters in the top of the 7^th flew out, followed by Kiley Turner's single up the middle. The Warriors forced a pop up in the infield to end the game, taking the 1-0 win.

Reilly Vicendese had two of the Warriors six hits and Brooke McKeown finished with a hit and the lone RBI. Paige Zigmund was solid in the circle all day, tossing a complete game with no runs, five hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Five different Bobcats compiled a hit in the loss. Abigail O'Shields pitched well, going four innings and allowing the one run of the game (earned) on just four hits and two walks while striking out three. Hannah Hudson threw two innings of relief, striking out three.