BRIDGEPORT — Morgantown scored 18 runs on 13 hits and held Bridgeport to one hit and two walks in an 18-0 run-rule victory over the Indians in five innings Friday evening.
“It’s one of those games that I try to tell them not to take anyone for granted,” Morgantown coach Lori Lipscomb said. “We came here last year, they jumped on us and had a lead for a while. Getting the right mindset was key to come out and take care of business.”
Morgantown pitcher Mo Wilson drew the start and pitched a pair of hitless innings, striking out five. Kate Larimer followed, allowing one hit in three innings of work and striking out eight to pick up the win.
“That’s good for Mo, she hasn’t been really comfortable in the circle yet,” Lipscomb said. “We had to get her some innings to get ready for the rest of the season. She settled in and did what she needed to.”
The Morgantown bats were filled with fire. Wilson, Madison Wisman and Anne Robinson each had two hits. Paige Rhodes, Beth Robinson and Anne Robinson each had two RBI.
Bridgeport’s lone hit came from junior pitcher Kyleigh Anderson. She drew a walk in her other plate appearance, finishing 1-of-1. She was the only member of the Tribe to not strike out and added a stolen base.
Anderson drew the start and the loss for Bridgeport in the circle, allowing the bulk of damage before Renzy Pethtel came in relief. Anderson notched two strikeouts.
Morgantown started with a five-run first inning. After a run scored on an error, Liz Alsop poked an RBI single to left field. An RBI single from Wilson followed before an error gave the Mohigans the last of its first-frame runs.
Two strikeouts paced the Mohigans to a 5-0 lead after an inning.
The march continued. A sacrifice fly from Alsop brought Emily Peterson to score. Morgantown led
6-0 after two innings.
A run scored on an error was followed by an RBI single from Peterson to center field. Grace Robinson scored to improve the lead to eight.
Bridgeport had a pair of great effort plays in the outfield to highlight the otherwise somber day. Kileigh Pugh robbed a home run at the left field fence, and Kaylie Kwiatkowski dived for an out in center field a few innings later.
Nevertheless, Morgantown continued to strike the ball.
After drawing a walk for a run, Anne Robinson belted a ball down the left-field line to bring in two runners. A dropped third strike allowed a run, and a wild pitch let up another. Morgantown led 13-0 after four innings.
“I had some that were struggling at-bats,” Lipscomb said. “This gives them that confidence boost going into the rest of conference play.”
Two walks and an error scored three runs before a sacrifice fly from Madilyn Stone brought home Beth Robinson. A final run was scored on a fielder’s choice, giving Morgantown its
18-0 lead.
Larimer tossed three straight strikeouts to invoke the fifth inning run-rule.
Morgantown (1-2) picks up its first win of the season and will host Parkersburg South on Saturday. The team will then travel to Myrtle Beach for a stretch of games.
“It’s good to get the first win,” Lipscomb said. “You get that monkey off of your back. We lost to (University) and John Marshall, so this hopefully will push us in the right direction. We’ve got Park South, and then we go to Myrtle Beach for spring training.”
Bridgeport is now 2-3. The Indians travel to Preston on Mar. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
by Tyler Kennett/WV News
