West Liberty Softball split their four game weekend series 2-2 against Davis & Elkins College and West Virginia Wesleyan College, improving to an overall team record of 21-12. Prior to this weekend’s contest, West Liberty was riding a season high 10 game winning streak, which extended as far as 12 prior to the Wesleyan match-up. This winning streak included phenomenal wins over the likes of Wheeling University, Glenville State College, Concord University, Ursuline College, Slippery Rock University, and Davis & Elkins.

Beginning this weekend series for the Lady Hilltoppers was a doubleheader against the Davis & Elkins Senators. On the mound for Game one was Makenzie Amend, who put on one of the most premier showings the entire Mountain East Conference has seen all season. Amend, who was recognized by the team during their senior day, wasted no time getting into a groove. With West Liberty taking a 1-0 lead after an inning of play, it was all Amend from there, who struck out an eye popping 15 batters while walking none. Although she gave up three hits while doing so, the complete game shutout she had pitched was more than enough in terms of what was expected, and Head Coach Herb Minch is undoubtedly pleased with his veteran pitchers performance.

Game two against Davis & Elkins was much of the same for the Hilltoppers pitching staff, this time with the incredible performance of sophomore Riley Bennington. West Liberty was once again able to secure a two run lead after a run was scored in both the fourth and fifth inning, and it ultimately proved to be enough for the Hilltoppers, as Bennington tossed six scoreless innings, while striking out six and not walking a single batter. It is safe to say that Saturday was phenomenal for the West Liberty pitching staff as a whole, with the feature of fourteen straight scoreless innings, including twenty one strikeouts and one walk.

Although the Hilltoppers found success against the Senators, it was not the same when it came to the face-off against West Virginia Wesleyan. Annie Patterson was on the mound for the first of two games, and was unfortunately tagged with the loss after getting hit early and walking five. The final score was 5-2. The second game was definitely closer, ultimately going into extra innings, but WVWC hung true, and pulled out that victory as well with a 7-5 final. Bennington on a days rest looked a bit shaky in the top of the second, and Taylor Bonnett eventually was credited with the loss for the Hilltoppers.

With just a handful of series remaining for the Hilltoppers softball team, expect this race down the stretch to capture the Mountain East North to be as entertaining as ever, and something in which the Hilltoppers look to come out on top.