SALEM, Va. — Charleston softball battled through two games in the Mountain East Conference Championship round at Moyer Sports Complex, forcing a winner take all second game before ultimately falling to Glenville State. The Golden Eagles closed the season at 45-16 after advancing to the MEC Championship Finals and now await the NCAA Atlantic Regional selections.
Game 1
THE BASICS:
Location: Salem, Va. (Moyer Sports Complex)
Score: Charleston 3, Glenville State 4
Records: Charleston 45-15 (MEC), Glenville State 44-14 (MEC)
How It Happened:
Glenville State threatened early, but Charleston starter Addison Mass worked around traffic in the opening two innings to keep the game scoreless. The Golden Eagles also stranded runners in the first after singles from Taylor Hodson and Kayla Moran.
The Pioneers broke through in the top of the third inning. Shelby McDaniels opened the rally with a single before Delany Warnick delivered an RBI single through the left side to give Glenville State a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Kylee Goodman added another RBI single to left center as the Pioneers extended the advantage to 2-0.
Charleston continued to pressure offensively throughout the middle innings. Moran singled in the fourth before Kaleigh Serra worked a walk, but the Golden Eagles were unable to capitalize.
The breakthrough finally came in the bottom of the fifth. Maya Hataway started the inning with a double into left center before Bianca Polistina ripped an RBI double to cut the deficit to 2-1. Taylor Hodson followed immediately with another RBI double down the left field line to even the score. After Kayla Moran moved the go ahead run to third, Danielle Pici came through with a clutch RBI double to right field, giving Charleston its first lead of the afternoon at 3-2.
Glenville State answered in the top of the seventh. Shelby McDaniels singled to begin the inning before Warnick connected on a two run home run to right field, swinging the lead back in favor of the Pioneers at 4-3.
Charleston went down in order in the bottom half as Glenville State evened the championship series and forced a deciding second game.
Game 2
THE BASICS:
Location: Salem, Va. (Moyer Sports Complex)
Score: Charleston 4, Glenville State 10
Records: Charleston 45-16 (MEC), Glenville State 45-14 (MEC)
How It Happened:
Glenville State came out aggressively in the winner take all championship game, loading the bases in the opening inning before Kylee Goodman drove in the first run with an RBI single. Moments later, Zailees Seda lined a two RBI single down the right field line to push the Pioneers ahead 3-0.
Charleston immediately responded in the bottom half. Ella Zucchero opened the inning with a double to left center and later scored on a Taylor Hodson RBI groundout. Kayla Moran then doubled down the left field line before Danielle Pici singled to right, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after one inning.
The Pioneers extended the lead in the second when Delany Warnick launched a two run home run to right field, making it 5-2.
Charleston again answered in the bottom of the second. Kaleigh Serra singled to start the inning before Maya Hataway reached on a fielder's choice. After Ella Zucchero reached safely to continue the inning, Bianca Polistina delivered one of the biggest hits of the game with a two RBI triple down the left field line, bringing Charleston back within one at 5-4.
Both teams settled in briefly over the next two innings. Charleston threatened in the fourth after Caraline Dunn singled and Zucchero walked, but Glenville State escaped the inning without damage.
The turning point came in the fifth. Emily Nolan singled and Kylee Goodman walked to put two runners aboard before Hannah Howe lined a two RBI double into left center to extend the lead to 7-4. Emma McLean followed later in the inning with another RBI double, stretching the advantage to four runs.
Charleston was retired in order in the fifth and managed just one hit over the final three innings as Glenville State's pitching staff shut down the Golden Eagle offense late.
The Pioneers added two insurance runs in the seventh inning after Howe connected on a two run home run to center field, giving Glenville State a 10-4 lead.
Charleston was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Pioneers claimed the MEC Tournament Championship.
Up Next:
Charleston now awaits the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Selection Show to learn whether the Golden Eagles earned an at large bid into the NCAA Tournament following their MEC Championship Finals appearance.
