RALEIGH, N.C. – The West Virginia Wesleyan softball team split its first two games at the Raleigh Tournament in North Carolina Saturday, erupting for a 14-3 victory over Virginia Union University in the opener before falling to Carson-Newman University, 9-3, in the nightcap at the Walnut Creek Complex.
 
Game One: West Virginia Wesleyan 14, Virginia Union 3
Wesleyan's offense wasted no time setting the tone in the tournament opener, plating four runs in the bottom of the first and never looking back in a five-inning run-rule victory.
 
After Virginia Union capitalized on two early Bobcat errors to grab a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Wesleyan answered when Jaelyn Riley worked a walk and swiped second to ignite a rally. Gracey Arnold reached on an error to bring Riley home, and Josi Fix followed with a run-scoring double. Reagan Winn later reached on an error that allowed two more runs to cross, giving the Bobcats a 4-1 advantage after one.
 
The Bobcats continued to apply pressure in the second and third innings. Arnold delivered an RBI single in the second, while Madison Austra lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 6-1. In the third, Winn doubled and later scored on an RBI double by Emma Putman. Lynzee Hague added an RBI double of her own and eventually scored on a wild pitch as Wesleyan built a commanding 10-3 cushion.
 
Wesleyan put the game out of reach with a four-run fourth inning. Putman drove in another run with a single, and Sydney Lowen came off the bench to deliver a two-RBI pinch-hit single. Elise Fournier later added an RBI single to cap the 14-run performance.
 
The Bobcats tallied 11 hits and were aggressive on the basepaths, stealing multiple bases while forcing Virginia Union into four defensive errors. Riley scored three times and drew three walks, while Putman went a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Winn and Fix each collected two hits, and Arnold drove in two runs.
 
In the circle, Avery Orille earned the win, allowing three runs over 3.2 innings with four strikeouts. Mackenzie O'Brien closed the door with 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.
 
 
Game Two: No. 21 Carson-Newman 9, West Virginia Wesleyan 3
In the late game, Wesleyan squared off with nationally ranked Carson-Newman. The Bobcats answered an early three-run first inning by the Eagles with a big swing of their own.
 
After Carson-Newman plated three in the top half of the first, Jaelyn Riley singled and stole second to spark the response. Madison Austra drew a walk, setting the stage for Josi Fix, who blasted a three-run home run to center field to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The contest remained tied through four innings as Morgan Greene settled in the circle. However, the Eagles broke through in the fifth with four runs, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Addie Saunders and a two-run home run from Shelby Armstrong. Carson-Newman added single runs in the sixth and seventh to seal the 9-3 decision.
 
Fix once again paced the Wesleyan offense, finishing 2-for-3 with the three-run homer and all three RBIs. Riley accounted for another hit and stole a base, while the Bobcats were limited to three total hits against Carson-Newman pitcher Atiana Stamper, who struck out six over seven innings.
 
Greene took the loss after allowing six runs in 4.1 innings of work, while Fix provided 2.2 innings in relief.