MORGANTOWN — The University softball team had to call an audible early in their game against Parkersburg South Friday afternoon.
After the Patriots plated a run in the top of the first, UHS starting pitcher Maddie Campbell singled to lead off the home half of the frame but was later struck by an errant throw running between second and third base. The ball hit the back of her throwing shoulder and, although Campbell was able to stay in the game, UHS head coach Mindy Parks swapped her in the circle with fellow freshman Sophia Lehosit.
“(Campbell) got popped pretty hard,” Parks said. “She’s a tough kid and she was pretty upset, but I said ‘don’t worry, we have another really good pitcher.’”
Lehosit pitched five strong innings of relief as the Hawks went on to win 10-2 in six innings. Before she threw her first pitch, however, the Hawks (13-3) were able to score two runs in the bottom of the first inning and take a 2-1 lead over their visitors.
Then Lehosit took over, swallowing just one run in the final five innings, scattering five hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
“She warmed up really good too,” Park said. “Maybe in hindsight, I should’ve started her because she was on fire during warm-ups.
“Both of those girls are great pitchers for freshmen. You can flip a coin with them, they’re good kids.”
Offensively, the Hawks’ big inning came in the bottom of the third. Leading 3-1, each of the first six UHS batters were able to reach base and eventually come around to score in the frame. Lehosit had an RBI single and Ally Jansen followed with a two-run base hit, but the big blow in the inning came from No. 9 hitting freshman Bree Royce. With the bases loaded, Royce hit a line drive into the right-center field gap that scored all three runners and left her standing on third base with a bases-clearing triple.
he’s getting more confident. She’s great in practice and hopefully, that’ll give her some confidence to know that she can do it,” Park said. “Everybody contributed, the bottom of the lineup did great. They got some chances tonight and I think that sparked them a little bit. Maybe that’ll keep them confident when they do get a chance.”
Leading 9-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, an RBI bloop single by Lehosit ended the game a frame early for the home team.
Along with what she did in the circle, Lehosit also had two hits, scored a run and had three RBI. Campbell, who played first base after the first inning, finished with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored.
Royce had two hits and three RBI, Jansen drove in two and Kennadi Barnhart supplied two hits and scored twice.
Alison Marcum and Brooklin Whitehead drove in the two Parkersburg South runs.
University will have the weekend off, but will come back Monday with a game against rival Morgantown. University will serve as the home team and the game will be played on Lynch Field at Mylan Park.
University 10, Parkersburg South 2, 6 innings
PS 100 010 — 2 8 2
UHS 216 001 — 10 13 0
PS — Beatty 3 0 1 0; Lamp 3 1 2 0; Marcum 3 0 2 1; Whitehead 3 0 1 1; Vargas 3 0 0 0; Snyder 2 0 1 0; Hatcher 3 0 0 0; Kuhl 2 0 1 0; Daniels 2 1 0 0. Totals 24 1 8 2.
UHS — Campbell 4 2 3 1; Argabrite 1 2 1 0; Masoner 2 1 1 1; Lehosit 4 1 2 3; Jansen 3 1 1 2; Park 3 1 1 0; Barnhart 3 2 2 0; Riffle 3 0 0 0; Royce 3 0 2 3. Totals 26 10 13 10.
2B — PS: Snyder
3B — UHS: Royce
WP: Lehosit 5ip, 4h, 1r, 0bb, 3k
LP: Lamp 2ip, 8h, 8r, 2bb, 1k
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