CHARLESTON, W.VA.— No.15 University of Charleston Softball (18-1, 6-0 MEC) remains perfect in conference play with a doubleheader sweep over West Virginia State University (10-15, 2-4 MEC). Brianna McCown (12-1, 5-0 MEC) was credited with the 8-2 win in game one, while Chloe Elliott (3-0, 2-0 MEC) picked up the win in game two.
 
Hannah Rose remains hot for the Golden Eagles. The senior batted .714 (5-7) on the day with a double, three runs scored, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. Rose sits atop the Mountain East Conference with an on base percentage of .547. As a team, Charleston also leads the country with a fielding percentage of .986.
 
The Basics:
Location: Watt Powell Annex
Score: G1: 8-2 (UCWV); G2: 5-3 (UCWV)
Records: UCWV (18-1, 6-0 MEC); WVSU (10-15, 2-4 MEC)
 
Summary:
Game One: 8-2 (UCWV)
Despite putting runners on, both Charleston and West Virginia State put up goose eggs in first. McCown tallied her first strikeout and induced a pop fly to notch the first two outs of the game, but WVSU's Autumn Thompson picked up the game's first hit to put a runner on. It was to no avail though, as McCown struck out another Yellow Jacket to retire the side. Like State, Charleston also put themselves in the hit column with a double off the bat of Isabella Andujar. A ground ball to the first baseman then allowed for Andujar to advance to third before Lindsey Phares drew a walk to put runners on first and third with two outs. Phares swiped second, but a strikeout ended the inning to keep the game scoreless.
 
The score remained even at zero until a leadoff single by Hannah Meyer and walk by Raegan West put runners on for Charleston in the bottom half of the second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by Allison Rubal advanced both runners. Brittny Ogg capitalized on Rubal's bunt by clearing the bases on a double to quickly put UC ahead 2-0. Two singles, a stolen base and an error by the Yellow Jackets allowed the Golden Eagles to score three more runs before WVSU's starting pitcher finally stopped the bleeding.
 
West Virginia State's first run of the game came in the third. McCown started the inning off by prompting a flyout to center field, however a single and stolen base made things interesting for the Yellow Jackets. They were able to push across a run on another hit before McCown collected the last two outs on a strikeout and fly out. 
 
The bats went cold for both teams until Andujar made the score 6-1 on a bomb over the centerfield fence to lead off the bottom of the fifth. State scored the next inning following a leadoff walk, a single and a groundout, but that was the last time they crossed the plate, as McCown held the Yellow Jackets scoreless the rest of the way. The final two runs of the game came off a double by Rose and a sacrifice fly by Allysa Lake.
 
Game Two: 8-2 (UCWV)
Chloe Elliott sent the first two Yellow Jackets packing via the strikeout and then induced a groundout to second base to hand the bats over to her teammates. Charleston promptly applied pressure to the WVSU defense after Rose drew a walk and advanced to third on a single by Andujar. Andujar put herself in scoring position by capturing second base before Lake walked. With the bases juiced, WVSU transfer Lindsey Phares unloaded them on a grand slam to give the Golden Eagles the lead. The Yellow Jackets got out of the jam on a groundout and a pair of flyouts.
 
The Yellow Jackets singled in top of the second with one out before Elliott shut it down again with two ground balls. After walking in the first inning, Rose knocked her first hit of the game and advanced to second on a wild pitch to get it going for UC. Andujar also reached base for a second time, but this time on a free pass. Another wild pitch put Rose and Andujar on second and third with the hot-hitting Lake stepping up to the plate. The graduate student smacked one to shortstop who was unable to get a handle on the ball. Andujar advanced to third and Lake reached first on the error. A double play by the Yellow Jackets quickly ended the inning though.
 
A momentum shift occurred in the fourth inning after WVSU reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to third who went on to score on a single. Another singled moved State's other runner all the way to third to continue apply pressure to Elliott. A groundout to the shortstop plated another run for WVSU. It did not count against Elliott though, as another groundout held the Yellow Jackets to just two runs. Five runs is all the Golden Eagles could chalk up, as they did not produce the rest of the way. State mustered up another run in the seventh, however the game concluded on a ball tapped to Elliott. 
 
Up Next:
UC will host another pair of doubleheaders this upcoming weekend. On Saturday, March 23 they will face Wheeling University, who poses a record of 4-22 (0-4), at 2pm and 4pm. The next day, the Golden Eagles will take on the Hilltoppers of West Liberty University who lead the MEC North Division with an overall record of 9-13 (4-0 MEC).