SALEM, W.Va. — Salem University softball split a doubleheader with West Liberty on Friday afternoon at The Bridge, taking game one 3-1 before falling 6-0 in game two.
Game One: Salem 3, West Liberty 1
Salem used a fast start and a dominant performance in the circle from Brooke Wise to secure the opening game of the twinbill.
Wise led the way both at the plate and in the circle, going 3-for-4 with an RBI while tossing a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits with four strikeouts.
The Tigers struck early in the first inning when Jacobi Gledhill doubled to set the table for Kylie Zinn, who delivered a two-run double to give Salem a 2-0 advantage.
Salem added another run in the second inning as Wise helped her own cause with an RBI single, extending the lead to 3-0.
West Liberty pushed across its lone run in the third, but Wise settled in from there, limiting the Hilltoppers to just one hit over the final four innings.
Zinn finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Bella Ortiz and Gina Alvaro each contributed multi-hit efforts as Salem totaled 11 hits in the win.
Game Two: West Liberty 6, Salem 0
In the nightcap, West Liberty flipped the script, using a big middle innings surge to earn the split.
The Hilltoppers broke through in the second inning and added three more runs in the third to take control, building a 5-0 lead.
Ashlyn Tapman and Delaney Homer paced the West Liberty offense, combining for five hits and five RBIs, while Homer delivered a key two-run single in the third inning to extend the lead.
Salem was limited to six hits in the contest, with Brooke Wise, Alyssa Schultz, Jacobi Gledhill, Kylie Zinn, and Bella Ortiz each recording hits.
Kendall Lemley took the loss in the circle, allowing five runs over three innings, while Franchesca Alvaro provided solid relief, giving up just one run over the final four innings.
Despite putting runners on throughout the game, Salem was unable to break through against West Liberty pitcher Ashleigh Heiderschei, who tossed a complete game shutout.
Salem moves to 19-34 on the season following the split and will look to carry momentum from the game one victory into its next outing.
