Charleston, W.Va.- Hannah Rose powered the offense in game 1 victory. Morgan Hoppe pitched a 1-0 gem  in game 2 to close out the sweep.

The Basics
Location: Watt Powell Annex
Score: G1: UC 6, WVSU 5, G2: UC 1, WVSU 0
Records: UC 18-12 (10-4 MEC),  CU 14-12 (11-3 MEC)

How it Happened

Game One 
The Golden Eagles (18-12) roughed up State's starting pitcher, Kasey Murphy (5-5) picking up five runs on seven hits through the fourth inning and tacked on their sixth run in the fifth on some slick baserunning. WVSU tried to mount a comeback late, but Mahea Haegele came in to slam the door shut in the seventh to close out the 6-5 victory.

The scoring opened up in the second inning when hot-hitting Hannah Rose came to the plate with the bases loaded after a Reagan West single, a walk to Morgan Hoppe, and after Emma Groe was beaned. With two outs, the extended at bat ended with a walk for Rose, forcing home West.

UC pitcher Dani Bauer (9-9) faced the minimum through the first two innings. A leadoff single, a stolen base, and passed ball, State's leftfielder Paige Scruggs gave them their first scoring opportunity. Bauer was poised to work out of the jam after striking out Layla Mendoza with a tantalizing changeup and inducing Addi Dillow to ground out softly back to the circle. However, State was able to scratch out a run after a throwing error, making the score 1-1.

Charleston would immediately answer back in the home-half of the third. Gracie Donato worked a one-out walk and was lifted for pinch runner Lindsay Reavis who has been a weapon on the base paths. Reavis immediately stole second. With two out, Morgan Hoppe drove a single to center to plate Reavis giving UC the lead 2-1.

After a quick 1-2-3 inning, UC went back to work at the plate. Brionna Bowman singled sharply to left, and Carlie Odejewski legged out an infield base hit, advancing Bowman to third. Odejewski put herself in scoring position with her 14th stolen base on the season. Up next was Hannah Rose, who promptly deposited a Murphy pitch to the right center fence, scoring both runners. After Rose stole third base, Kendal Marshall finished Murphy's day in the circle with a liner to center to give the Golden Eagles a 5-1 lead after four innings.

Bauer set the Yellow Jackets down in order again in the fifth. Emma Groe led off Charleston's fifth inning with a walk, and Brittny Ogg entered as a pinch runner. Odejewski pushed her to second base with another single. Rose stepped in the box once again and reached first on a fielder's choice putting runners on the corners, setting up another opportunity for UC speed to score. Rose stole second base and Ogg stole home to cushion the UC lead to 6-1.

WVSU mounted a rally in the seventh after Bauer surrendered a couple of walks and two hits, including a homer. With the score 6-5, Mahea Haegele entered the game with one out and retired the next two hitters for her second save on the season. In 6.1 innings of work, Bauer struck out six and allowed two earned runs on four hits.

Game Two 
The nightcap was an old-fashioned pitcher's duel between UC's Morgan Hoppe (8-3) and WVSU's Autumn Thompson (3-3). A run in the bottom of the sixth gave the Golden Eagles the victory.

Neither team threatened to score until the fourth inning. In the top half of the inning, Paige Scruggs doubled with two outs. Morgan Hoppe struck out the next hitter to close out the inning. This was the only opportunity for the Yellow Jackets during the game. No other runner would reach second base.

In the bottom half of the inning, Gracie Donato garnered a one-out walk. Lindsay Reavis entered the game as a pinch runner and immediately stole second base and advanced to third on the catcher's throwing error. Thompson, however, was able to get the next two Golden Eagle hitters to retire the side.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Kendal Marshall put together an extended at bat, resulting in a base on balls. Allysa Lake stepped to the plate and hit a ringing double that rattled off the left field fence away from the WVSU leftfielder. Marshall raced around the bases without a play at the plate to score the contest's first and only run of the game.

Morgan Hoppe was masterful in the circle and closed out the top of the seventh in order, including a punch out of the final hitter, Hannah Wilson. In the complete game shutout, Hoppe allowed only four hits while striking out seven.

Up Next:
Charleston will take to the road this weekend for two doubleheaders. On Saturday, April 9, the Golden Eagles will visit Davis & Elkins College with a noon time start for game one. On Sunday,April 10, the Maroon and Gold will face off against West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon, WV beginning at 1:00pm.