Glenville, W.Va. – The 2026 season opened with three competitive contests for the West Virginia Wesleyan College softball team at the Sue Morris Sports Complex in Glenville, as the Bobcats squared off against Gannon (Feb. 20), Seton Hill (Feb. 21), and Bowie State (Feb. 21).
Game One – Gannon 9, West Virginia Wesleyan 7
Wesleyan opened the season in dramatic fashion Friday afternoon, building a 7-2 lead before Gannon erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning to take a 9-7 decision.
The Bobcats struck first in the opening frame.
Jaelyn Riley drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Lynzee Hague before
Gracey Arnold delivered an RBI groundout to put Wesleyan ahead 1-0.
After Gannon tied the game on a solo home run in the bottom of the first, the Bobcats regained control in the third. Arnold doubled to left-center and drove in Hague to give Wesleyan a 2-1 lead. The momentum continued in the fourth when
Madison Austra launched a solo home run to deep right field — her first of the season — extending the advantage to 3-1.
Wesleyan added another run in the fifth when Hague doubled down the line and Arnold followed with an RBI single, making it 4-2. Arnold finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a double, leading a 10-hit effort.
The Bobcats appeared in control entering the bottom of the fifth, but Gannon capitalized on a combination of timely hitting and defensive miscues to score seven runs in the inning and take a 9-4 lead.
Refusing to fold, Wesleyan rallied in the sixth.
Reagan Winn reached on an error,
Chloe Cowan singled, and Riley walked to load the bases. Hague reached on a fielder's choice to bring home a run, and Arnold added another RBI groundout.
Josi Fix then doubled down the left-field line to score Hague and cut the deficit to 9-7.
Morgan Greene went 4.1 innings in the circle with four strikeouts, while Fix tossed 1.2 innings in relief.
Game Two – Seton Hill 5, West Virginia Wesleyan 0
In Saturday's early matchup, Wesleyan was limited to five hits in a 5-0 loss to Seton Hill.
The Griffins capitalized on early defensive miscues to build momentum. Seton Hill plated an unearned run in the second inning, then pushed across three more in the third inning, all unearned, to take a 4-0 advantage.
Avery Orille started in the circle and allowed just one earned run over four innings, while
Josi Fix provided three innings of scoreless relief.
Offensively,
Madison Austra doubled and
Reagan Winn collected two hits.
Gracey Arnold and
Emma Putman also recorded singles. The Bobcats threatened in the fourth inning when Austra doubled and Winn singled to put runners on the corners, but Seton Hill worked out of the jam.
Shelby Telegdy tossed a complete-game shutout for the Griffins.
Game Three – Bowie State 4, West Virginia Wesleyan 2
In the weekend finale, Wesleyan again battled, but Bowie State capitalized on key moments for a 4-2 victory.
The Bobcats broke through in the third inning when
Jaelyn Riley reached on a bunt single, stole second, and eventually scored on a throwing error to give Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.
After Bowie State tied the contest in the fourth,
Trinity Nowicki responded with a solo home run down the left-field line in the bottom half of the inning to put Wesleyan back in front, 2-1.
Bowie State answered with two runs in the fifth and added an insurance run in the sixth to secure the win.
Nowicki finished 1-for-1 with a home run and two walks. Riley added a hit and a stolen base, while
Gracey Arnold and
Madison Austra also contributed base hits.
Morgan Greene tossed a complete game, striking out nine while allowing just two earned runs.
Weekend Notes
- Gracey Arnold: 4-for-8 with five RBIs over the first two games.
- Madison Austra: Home run vs. Gannon; double vs. Seton Hill; multiple-hit effort in the opener.
- Trinity Nowicki: First home run of the season vs. Bowie State.
- Morgan Greene: Combined 11 strikeouts over two appearances.
The Bobcats travel for Spring Break action beginning Friday, Feb. 27 when the team plays Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.
