SAINT MARY OF THE WOODS, Ind. — WVU Tech softball split a River States Conference doubleheader with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on Saturday, rallying for a 6-5 win in the opener before falling 8-0 in five innings in game two. The Golden Bears now stand 8-22 overall and 6-20 in conference play.
Game 1
WVU Tech 6, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 5
WVU Tech showed resilience throughout the opener, erasing an early 3-0 deficit and taking control with a strong middle stretch at the plate. The Golden Bears broke through in the fourth when Hailea Skeens singled, Tori Wells doubled and Ashleigh James drove in Tech's first run. Mia Valenzuela followed with an RBI fielder's choice to trim the deficit to 3-2.
The Golden Bears kept the pressure on in the fifth. Kaylee Waddell walked and stole second before Peyton Hudnall singled. Skeens delivered an RBI single, Wells added a run-scoring hit and James brought home another run on a groundout as WVU Tech moved in front 5-3. Tech added an important insurance run in the sixth when Meghan Gill doubled, moved to third on a fielder's choice and stole home.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods made a late push in the seventh, but Gill finished the complete-game effort to secure the win. WVU Tech totaled 13 hits in the victory, with Wells and Skeens leading the way and Hudnall adding two hits at the top of the order.
Golden Bear Highlights
- Hailea Skeens: 3-for-4, RBI, 2 runs scored
- Tori Wells: 4-for-4, double, RBI, run scored, 3 stolen bases
- Ashleigh James: 1-for-4, 2 RBIs
- Peyton Hudnall: 2-for-4, stolen base
- Meghan Gill: complete-game win, 7.0 IP, 9 hits, 5 runs
- Kaylee Waddell: walk, hit by pitch, run scored, stolen base
Game 2
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 8, WVU Tech 0 (5 inn.)
WVU Tech battled through a scoreless first three innings in game two and continued to create chances early. Hailea Skeens and Olivia Barnett opened the third with singles, and Ashleigh James and Meghan Gill each added hits as the Golden Bears put runners on against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods starter Lanna Martinez.
The game remained tight until the fourth, when the Pomeroys pushed across two runs. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods added six more in the fifth, but WVU Tech still finished with four hits in the contest, including singles from Skeens, Barnett, James and Gill. Taylor Scott worked 4.2 innings in the circle for the Golden Bears.
Golden Bear Highlights
Season Leaders
Through 30 games, Olivia Barnett leads WVU Tech with a .422 batting average, 38 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs and a team-best 18 RBIs. Hailea Skeens is batting .419 with 39 hits, nine doubles, 16 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Tori Wells has contributed 27 hits, 14 RBIs and a team-high 12 stolen bases. Peyton Hudnall has added 24 hits, 17 runs scored and 11 stolen bases, and Kaylee Waddell has recorded 10 stolen bases this season.
In the circle, Taylor Scott has logged 95.1 innings with 36 strikeouts and 13 complete games, while Meghan Gill has thrown 90.0 innings with 20 strikeouts and 10 complete games. As a team, WVU Tech owns a 5.70 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP.
What's Next
WVU Tech returns to action Tuesday, April 14, for a River States Conference doubleheader at the University of Rio Grande. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM, followed by game two at 5:00 PM.
