KEYSER, W.V. – The Monroe University softball team (15-9 overall) swept their opening games against WVU Potomac State College (11-3 overall) 5-2 and 11-2 on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)

·      Potomac State took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning off a fly out to center field, scoring a run to take a 1-0 lead.

·      Later in the inning, an RBI single to second base put them ahead 2-0.

·      After four scoreless innings for both sides, the Mustangs answered, scoring two runs off a single by Sophia Davis to even the game at 2-2.

·      Then, in the same inning, two runs would score on a Richeilys Rodriguez ground out to second base to give the Mustangs the 4-2 lead.

·      Zoe Thomson then ripped an RBI double to left field, scoring Veronika Anderson to put the Mustangs ahead 5-2.

Game 2

·      The Mustangs opened game two scoring a pair of runs off an RBI single to the shortstop by Gabriella Pugliese, scoring one run to put the Mustangs ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

·      Later in the same inning, a fly out to center by Lizbeth Zambrano would score Sophia Davis to put the Mustangs ahead 2-0.

·      In the top of the second inning, Pugliese would knock in another RBI single, scoring two runs to put the Mustangs ahead 4-0.

·      Then, in the top of the third inning, Kerris Johnson reached first on an error by the second baseman, scoring in two runs to put the Mustangs ahead 6-0.

·      In the bottom of the third inning, a home run by Potomac State cut the Mustangs' lead to 6-1.

·      Rodriguez ripped an RBI single to left field, scoring Pugliese to increase the Mustangs' lead to 7-1 in the top of the fourth inning.

·      In the same inning, Alexis Ortiz reached first on an error by the second baseman, which scored a run to put the Mustangs ahead 8-1.

·      An error by the shortstop scored Zoe Thomson in the same inning to put the Mustangs ahead 9-1.

·      Potomac State scored one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning off an error by the catcher to cut the Mustangs' lead to 9-2.

·      Then in the fifth inning the Mustangs tacked on two more runs off two sacrifice fly-outs by Pugliese and Rodriguez to seal the 11-2 victory.

STATS AND NOTES

·      WVU Potomac State holds the all-time series lead 6-4.

·      This is the first pair of victories for the Mustangs over WVU Potomac State since 2024.

·      Pugliese tallied four RBIs in game two, going 3-3 on the day. It's the most hits and RBIs she's tallied in a single game this season.

·      Sophia Davis started in the circle in game one, going all seven innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs while she struck out five batters.

·      Zoe Thomson picked up the win in game two, going four innings in the circle, allowing just two hits and one earned run while she struck out one batter.

UP NEXT

The Mustangs return to action on Saturday, March 21, when they conclude their series at WVU Potomac State with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.