BOX SCORE

(SALEM, Va.) West Liberty University's Hilltoppers held off a furious Bowie State University rally and captured a 4-2 extra inning victory over the Lady Bulldogs in the nightcap of the Salem Invitational.  It was not a good day for Bowie State, losing their third game in a row and saw their record fall to 5-6.

The Hilltoppers broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 5th inning when Leanna McMillen drove in Kelsey Martin from second with a shot up the middle of the Lady Bulldogs defense for a 1-0 lead.  Martin reached on a single and advanced to second on a passed ball.

Bowie State missed a golden opportunity in their half of the fifth, leaving two stranded on the bases.  Freshman Raenelle Taylor begin the inning with a single to third and freshman Cassandra Clayborne followed with a bunt single, advancing Taylor to second.  The next two Lady Bulldogs batters struck out and sophomore Justine Smith lined out to short to end the inning.

Taylor hit a bloop single to shallow left in the bottom of the 6th inning, scoring freshman Cara Nance from second to tie the game at 1-1.

West Liberty's Martin reached on a little blooper between BSU second baseman (Taylor) and freshman right fielder Sharde Alls.  Taylor and Alls crashed into each other trying to make the catch, which allowed Martin to advance to second with no outs in the top of the 7th inning.

After a lengthy delay, McMillen put the Hilltoppers back in front at 2-1, scoring from second via a Bowie State error following a Felicia Hulslander single up the middle.

Bowie State freshman Cara Nance responded with a double to deep left field, scoring freshman Kiara Washington from second to knot the game at 2-2.  Washington got herself on base by way of a throwing error by West Liberty's McMillen.

Because the score was tied after seven complete innings, International Rules came into play, putting the last player out in the previous inning for each respective team on second to start the extra inning.

With Hulslander on second, Janea Cockrell singled to short but Hulslander did not advance to third.  Cockrell and Hulslander moved up 60 feet on a passed ball.  Jamee Burke stepped to the dish and singled up the middle, scoring Hulslander.  Stacey Sumner pinch hit for Equitia Sayles and slapped a shot to third, pushing Cockrell across the dish for a 4-2 lead.  Martin flew out to center and McMillen grounded out to shortstop to end the top of the 8th inning.

BSU sophomore Adria Lewis led off the Lady Bulldogs eighth with a walk and sophomore Haley Snyder reached safely on a fielder's choice, but junior Amanda Ray was out at third, pitcher to third.  Ray was Bowie State's lead runner to start the Lady Bulldogs International inning.  Taylor popped out to the pitcher for out number two and sophomore Shelby Snyder grounded out to second to end the game.
 
West Liberty (4-16) was led by Martin, McMillen and Cockrell who went a combined 9-for-14 at the plate.  The Hilltoppers beat on the ball for 17 hits compared to seven total hits for Bowie State.  Sara Emerich earned the victory, striking out eight and walking just one.

The Lady Bulldogs were led by Taylor and Haley Snyder with each going 2-for-4 in the setback.  Freshman Hayley Flint started the game in the circle, giving up 11 hits, struck out four and walked two.  Sophomore Mariela Hernandez came in to relieve Flint in the final two innings due to lineup changes as a result of Alls' injury, dropping her second decision of the afternoon.

Bowie State will return to action Sunday (March 18th) at 9 am versus Davis and Elkins College and conclude the Salem Invitational against host West Virginia Wesleyan University at 11 am.