Buckhannon, W.Va. — Charleston softball extended its conference dominance with a doubleheader sweep of West Virginia Wesleyan, highlighted by an 8-0 run-rule victory in Game 1 and a resilient extra-inning 10-6 win in Game 2.
GAME 1
The Basics
Location: Buckhannon, W.Va.
Score: Charleston 8, West Virginia Wesleyan 0
Records: Charleston 29-10 (13-2 MEC), West Virginia Wesleyan 12-23 (4-11 MEC)
How It Happened:
Charleston got on the board in the first inning after Taylor Hodson reached and advanced into scoring position before Caraline Dunn brought her home with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
The Golden Eagles threatened in the second and third with baserunners but couldn't add on, while Addison Mass kept Wesleyan quiet through the first three innings.
Charleston broke the game open in the fourth inning. Dunn reached on a walk and came around to score as the lineup turned over. Emma Smith delivered a three-RBI double to clear the bases and extend the lead to 4-0. Ella Zucchero followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0. After more traffic on the bases, Dunn drew a bases-loaded walk to push across another run, and Maddie Entler capped the inning with a two-RBI double, giving Charleston a commanding 8-0 advantage.
Mass handled the rest from there, allowing just two hits across five innings as Charleston secured the run-rule victory.
GAME 2
The Basics:
Location: Buckhannon, W.Va.
Score: Charleston 10, West Virginia Wesleyan 6 (8 innings)
Records: Charleston 30-10 (14-2 MEC), West Virginia Wesleyan 12-24 (4-11 MEC)
How It Happened:
Charleston wasted no time, scoring two runs in the first inning. Ella Zucchero reached and advanced before Kayla Moran drove her in with an RBI double. Danielle Pici followed with an RBI groundout to give Charleston a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, Moran worked her way on and eventually scored after aggressive baserunning, extending the lead to 3-0.
Charleston's pitching staff held Wesleyan scoreless through four innings before the Bobcats got on the board with a solo home run in the fifth to cut it to 3-1.
The Golden Eagles responded in the sixth inning when Maddie Entler reached and Emma Smith launched a two-run home run to push the lead to 5-1.
Wesleyan answered with a big sixth inning, stringing together hits before a three-run home run gave them a 6-5 lead.
Charleston didn't panic. In the seventh inning, Taylor Hodson tied the game with a solo home run to even things at 6-6.
In extra innings, Charleston took control in the eighth. After a sacrifice moved runners into scoring position, Ella Zucchero delivered a two-RBI double to reclaim the lead. Kayla Moran followed with an RBI double, and Danielle Pici added an RBI single to extend the lead to 10-6.
Addison Mass came in and shut things down over the final innings to secure the sweep.
Up Next:
Charleston travels to Pittsburgh, Pa. for a doubleheader against Point Park University on April 18 at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
