CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston women's softball swept a doubleheader with cross-town rival West Virginia State University on Wednesday afternoon.  Charleston moves to 17-4 on the season, 4-2 in Mountain East Conference play with the 7-0 and 5-4 victories. 

In the first game, UC used an assortment of hits to get on the scoreboard in the first frame.  Rachelle Toppings doubled, Cortney Norris singled Toppings in, Bethany Williams hit a two-run homerun, scoring Norris, and Kelly Browning followed with a solo shot of her own. UC never looked back, adding a run in the second inning and two in the fifth when Alyssa Stanley drove in two with a pinch-hit single. 

Offense wasn't to overshadow the pitching performance turned in by senior Courtney Fain, who threw a complete game shutout surrendering just two hits while striking out 15 Yellow Jacket batters.  Fain improved to 8-3 on the season and helped record Charleston's seventh shutout of the season.

Game two didn't feature the fireworks that game one did.  Charleston, however, struck first in the second inning and added a second run in the third when Allison Evans crossed the plate after singling to lead off the inning.  WV State chipped right back with two in the fourth with Hannah Griffith and Summer Sword each having RBI singles.  UC and WVSU each scored in the fifth.  Freshman Jessie Rowe got Alana Weyant to ground out to the pitcher with the tying run on first to end the game and hold on to the 5-4 victory. On the day for Rowe, who picked up her second victory of the season, she scattered seven hits over seven innings of work, while striking out three, and walking zero. 

UC is back in action Saturday against West Liberty University with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at the UC Softball Complex.