WEST LIBERTY, Wv. – In a matchup between future Mountain East Conference opponents, Point Park and West Liberty University split a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. The Pioneers took game one 5-4, beating the Hilltoppers in nine innings. West Liberty battled back and took game two 3-1 to get the split.

Game 1:

In a game that went to nine innings, a sacrifice fly by Melanie Taylor scored Hayley O'Neil which eventually was the game winning run.

West Liberty started the scoring in the second inning as Jaden Conrad doubled to right center where she then scored on a sacrifice fly by Breena Grace two batters later to make the score 1-0.

Point Park took the lead in the top of the third inning as they scored two runs.

With one out, Remi Koi reached first on an error by the shortstop where she then advanced to third on a single to center field by Mara Iagnemma.

Mia Arndt then reached base on a single in the infield which plated Koi and advanced Iagnemma to third. Gianna Welsh then hit the third single in a row for the Pioneers, scoring Iagnemma to make the score 2-1 going into the bottom of the third.

The Hilltoppers tied the game up 2-2 in the fourth on a double by Ashyln Tapman that scored Jared Conrad who had reached base on a single through the left side.

The Pioneers retook the lead in the sixth as Gianna Welsh led the inning off with a double to center field where she then scored on a double down the left field line by Sydnie Reese.

West Liberty once again tied the game as they scored a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Sara Simon led the inning off with a single to left field where she then came around to score on an Ashlyn Tapman bunt single to make the game 3-3 going into the top of the seventh.

Neither team was able to score in the seventh sending the game to extra innings.

Due to extra inning International Tie Breaker rules, the Pioneers started the eighth inning with a runner on second. Gianna Woods entered to run for Savannah Lee as the runner on second.

Kristyna Mala came through for the Pioneers as she hit a sacrifice fly to score Woods, making the game 4-3.

West Liberty once again tied the game up in the bottom of the eighth to send it to the ninth inning.

Point Park was able to get another sacrifice fly, this time out of Melanie Taylor, to score Hayley O'Neil. This run was the eventual game winning run.

The Hilltoppers had a chance to score in the ninth, but Gianna Welsh threw the runner out at third on a stolen base attempt to end West Liberty's scoring threat.

Gianna Welsh led the Point Park offense going 4 for 4 in game one with one RBI.

Jaylyn Mullenax threw a complete game for the Pioneers going 9.0 innings giving up four runs on seven hits.

Game 2:

In game two West Liberty came out the gates scoring as they scored all three of their runs in the first inning. The Point Park offense was never able to make up the difference and managed only one run allowing the Hilltoppers to walk away with a 3-1 game two win.

The Hilltoppers scored three runs in the first inning on two hits and two errors. Jaden Conrad singled through the right side to score Kayla Mancuso, then Sydney Johnson scored on an errant pick-off attempt at third that went into left field. The final run of the inning came as Jaden Conrad scored on an error at third base extending the lead to three.

No one scored again until the sixth inning as the Pioneers scored one in the top of the sixth to avoid the shutout.

Point Park was able to get a run on the board as Mackenzie Moore hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Sydnie Reese who had entered the game as a pinch runner in place of Michaela Koch who had reached on an error by the shortstop.  

The Pioneers were unable to get anymore runs, giving West Liberty the game two win.

Savannah Lee started in the circle for the Pioneers and was tagged with the loss as she went 4.0 innings giving up three runs, in which only one was earned, on five hits.

Kristyna Mala entered the game throwing 2.0 innings of relief giving up only one hit and two walks while picking up two strikeouts.

Bella Magliocco led Point Park's offense as she went 2-3 in game two.

With the split the Pioneers move to 13-17 overall while West Liberty moves to 12-24 on the year.

Point Park's games scheduled to be played on Friday, 4/12 versus Shawnee State have been postponed to 4/22 due to weather projected in Pittsburgh.

Point Park's next game will be on Sunday, 4/14 as the Pioneers will face off with Alice Lloyd for a River States Conference East Division doubleheader.