The month of April has simply been extraordinary for the West Liberty University softball team, and their series against Wheeling University and Fairmont State University were absolutely not an exception. April 7 began the road to riches for the Lady Hilltoppers, as they would eventually ride a twelve game win streak to April 18, catapulting their team up the ladder in the Mountain East Conference North division. With the streak coming to an unfortunate end against West Virginia Wesleyan College, West Liberty wasted very little time rushing back to the win column, and did so in rather dramatic fashion.

When a cross town arch-rival such as Wheeling University travels to the Hilltop, it goes without saying that there would be heated moments, and most importantly, the best competition. Senior Mackenzie Amend took the pitching reins for the Hilltoppers in game one against Wheeling, and put the Mountain East Conference on notice. Amend was sensational, striking out nine while failing to walk a single batter, and most importantly giving up zero runs in a complete game shutout victory. Amend picked up her fifth win of the season. The offense was not plentiful for the Hilltoppers in game one, but they did not need it, as a two run single by Annie Patterson in the bottom of the third proved to be more than enough to secure the victory.

Game two for the Hilltoppers was even more exciting than its predecessor. Patterson was given the nod as the starting pitcher, and picked up right where Amend left off, striking out three. Although Riley Bennington secured the victory herself, it did not come without tension. With a tie game in the bottom of the seventh, an opportunity to walk it off for the Hilltoppers was presented to Katie Beeman, in which she found herself delivering. The sacrifice squeeze bunt proved to be the difference maker, and the Hilltoppers were able to sweep the weekend series against the Cardinals.

West Liberty continued to roll against Fairmont State University, in an absolutely critical series as the conference watched. In game one of this series, the Hilltoppers were able to secure the victory in perhaps the most dramatic fashion you could imagine. Down by one with a full count and two outs, Sidney Little delivered a go ahead single that would win it for WLU, with the final being 3-2. To make matters worse for Fairmont State, they would eventually drop the second game as well 6-1.

With the Hilltoppers continuing to surge, they face an incredibly important series against Frostburg State University Monday afternoon.