MORGANTOWN — In sectional action, the Morgantown High softball team had Buckhannon-Upshur begging for mercy in a 14-5 win April 30, at Mylan Park.
The Mohigans (11-12) cruised behind six runs in the first inning and scores in each of the following innings to halt the game after five innings.
“Abby pitched a great game in the circle, defense was strong, our bats were really strong,” MHS head coach Lorri Lipscomb said.
The Buccaneers (10-11) drew first blood with double by Alli Robinson who was later brought home by Sara Cunningham on an RBI single.
After a Julia Zaph walk and a Noell Shreve single, Brianna McKenzie found the left field gap to double and score two runs.
Ally Hawkins followed that up with a triple to score McKenzie to put MHS up 3-0. Ava Anderson singled in the next at-bat to bring home Hawkins. Brooke Pyles singled to send Anderson to third next.
Morgantown starting pitcher Abby Shafer singled next to bring home Pyles and Anderson.
The Mohigans had a runner at first and a 6-0 lead before Buckhannon-Upshur could even record an out.
Alex Alt grounded into a double play and Alexandria Watson grounded to short stop to finally bring the inning to a close.
In the second inning, Shafer struck out three of four B-U batters to keep the Buccaneers quiet and Morgantown capitalized. After Shreve reached on an error, McKenzie knocked out a home run to left field to put the Mohigans up 8-2.
Morgantown then dazzled the fans with fielding. Zaph recorded two Buccaneer outs, one on a diving catch, to pin Buckhannon-Upshur against the wall. However, a fielding error by Shreve led to two B-U runs off a triple followed by a balk with a runner on third. Zaph and Alt both scored runs in the third to keep the lead at six, 10-4.
In the fourth, Shafer once again retired three of four batters. A trio of MHS singles by Pyles, Alt and Watson followed by a triple by Zaph put the Mohigans up 14-3 and the Buccaneers on mercy alert.
Buckhannon-Upshur would lead off with a couple of hits that would eventually become runs and with one out and a runner on first, Morgantown turned to Pyles to take over in the pitcher’s circle. B-U designated hitter Kayli Curry grounded into a double play to end the game early.
McKenzie led MHS with four RBIs, including the two-run home run in the second inning.
“I think I did well,” McKenzie said. “I’m excited about (University).”
The Mohigans will advance to the sectional final where they will take on crosstown rival University at 5 p.m. May 1. MHS beat UHS 6-1 in the regular season finale April 27.
“Rematch of Friday night,” Lipscomb said. “Hopefully it’s the same result.”
