MORGANTOWN – The defending state champions continued to roll as the University High softball team earned a 13-5 victory over visiting Buckhannon-Upshur on Tuesday evening on Lynch Field at Mylan Park.
In a contest that saw two ties and two lead changes in six innings, UHS (15-3-1) scored eight unanswered runs in the final three frames after Buckhannon tied the game at five in the top of the third.
Senior Kelsey Park, the lone senior celebrating her Senior Day on Tuesday, fittingly led the Hawks with a trio of base hits, including a triple and three runs scored. Three others (Liz Elza, Emma Stevens, and Adalyn Brown) joined Park with multiple hits.
“They (Buckhannon-Upshur) are a spunky group,” UHS head coach Mindy Parks said. “We were patient with their first pitcher and when they changed we just became a little unsure of how to approach it at first. We just had to take our time and make adjustments little by little and once we got comfortable we got going.”
The Lady Buccaneers took an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning. But UHS responded in the bottom half as Olivia Masoner singled home Park to break the ice for the home team and cut the deficit in half. That play was followed by Maddie Campbell scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game.
UHS starter Tegan Haney earned three straight outs in the second and made way for the offense to do more damage.
Elza smacked a hit to left field that slipped under the glove of the Buckhannon player and rounded the diamond to give UHS a 3-2 lead. Park hit a triple, allowing Campbell to bring her home on an infield single. Masoner hit a fly ball that brought Campblee home from second base after she had stolen the bag during the at-bat to extend the lead to 5-2.
But the visitors also had a fight in them, scoring three runs in the top of the third to tie the contest at five with three base hits and a walk.
“We just told them to calm down and be patient,” Parks said. “We’ve been experimenting with positions and things, but that wasn’t even an issue today. We wanted Maddie to start today because she hasn’t thrown a lo,t but it’s great to have others give other players their opportunities as well.”
Campbell entered the game for Haney after the tying run was scored and tossed four innings in the circle, allowing three hits and no runs, including seven strikeouts. Her strong effort in relief of Haney gave the UHS offense the boost it needed to take control of the game.
The Hawks took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth with two outs as Whitney Cox hit a double to put herself in scoring position. Emma Stevens also hit a double and brought Cox around to score to put UHS ahead 6-5.
The hosts added four more runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth, the last ending the game by mercy rule, 13-5.
“This team loves each other on and off the field and are coming together well,” Parks said. “I think they’re coming along. We’ve been challenged and have exciting matchups ahead of us that we look forward to. It’s going quickly, but we are enjoying the time.”
BOX SCORE
University 13, Buckhannon-Upshur 5
B-U 203 000 X – 5 7 3
UHS 230 143 – 13 13 1
Buckhannon-Upshur (8-5) – Marple 2110 Knabenshue 4110 Hamer 2100 Abel 3233 Tucker 2012 Spratt 2000 Pastorius 4010 Hebb 2000 Hart 2000 Lantz 2000
2B: Abel, Pastorius
HR: Abel
University (15-3-1) – Elza 3221 Park 4331 Campbell 3312 Masoner 2012 Cox 2111 Stevens 3021 Royce 4000 Haney 1000 Walls 3210 Brown 4221
2B: Stevens, Cox
3B: Park, Elza
(W) Campbell: 4.0ip 3h 0r 1bb 7k
(L) Hart: 3.0ip 5h 5r 2bb 1k
