Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. - The University of Charleston softball team showed surprising power against one of the top pitchers in the league, but defending WVIAC champion WV Wesleyan proved to be too much on their home field in 18-2 and 4-3 losses, Saturday afternoon.

WV Wesleyan (26-10, 11-3) commanded the first contest with a 13 run second inning as UC used four pitchers in the game to get through five innings of action.

Despite it being a tough loss the Golden Eagles (24-14, 12-2) walked away with two solo homeruns by Jacqueline Carlin (Whittier, CA) and Ayla Santos (Calvert County, MD).

The Golden Eagles rebounded in game two to put together a solid comeback attempt. WV Wesleyan tagged Charleston ace Emily Fultz (Germantown, OH) for three runs through two innings before she settled in to allow her offense to pull themselves into the contest.

Ashlea Wallace (Winfield, WV) displayed power that has been seen in glimpses all season long to open the scoring for the University of Charleston in the fifth inning with a solo shot beyond the leftfield fence. Two batters later Carlin struck for the second time on the afternoon with a smashed shot to center as UC got within 3-2.

A fielding error and hit batter allowed the Bobcats to plate a single run in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-2 lead.

UC made the game interesting in their final at-bat as Wallace crossed the plate on a ground ball to short by Carlin. Leading hitter Janeen Vazquez (Cincinnati, OH) and Angel Withrow (Cross Lanes, WV) followed with back-to-back singles to put the game-tying runner in scoring position.

The theat was ended by WV Wesleyan when Santos was forced into a hard-hit groundball to second.

Charleston dropped to second in the WVIAC standings with their first two conference losses of the season, yet the doubleheader was a great look at the stiff competition to come in their effort to grab a West Virginia Conference championship.

After a five-game road trip the Golden Eagles return to the friendly confines of their home field for a 4:00 pm doubleheader against WVIAC opponent Concord on Wednesday, April 11. The University of Charleston currently holds a 4-0 record in games played at the UC Softball Complex.