Point Park softball wins six in a row as the Pioneers swept WVU Tech 7-6 and 9-1

BECKLEY, Wv. – Point Park earned their sixth win in a row with two big wins against WVU Tech on Thursday. In game one the Pioneers and the Golden Bears were locked into a battle exchanging the lead until Gianna Welsh's third home run in the top of the seventh put the Pioneers on top for good. In game two it was all Point Park as the Pioneers scored nine unanswered runs until a solo home run by WVU Tech's Abby Gates eliminated the shutout. Point Park walked away with the winning beating the Golden Bears 9-1.

Game 1:

In game one it was a home run derby as both teams combined for a total of 8 home runs in game one. Gianna Welsh led Point Park's offense as she had three home runs in game one to help the Pioneers win a tight contest 7-6.

WVU Tech scored first on a two-run home run by Macy Wilkens in the bottom of the first.

Point Park answered back with a run of their own in the second as Savannah Lee singled to right field to score Mackenzie Moore who was pinch running for Gianna Welsh. Welsh had previously reached base on a walk.

The Pioneers took the lead in the top of the third with a home run of their own as Gianna Welsh hit her first home run of the game over the left field fence to also score Arndt who had reached base on a single to left field.

The Golden Bears answered right away and tied it up in the bottom of the second on a home run to right field by Abby Gates to make it 3-3

Point Park did not stop fighting as Remi Koi singled to right field to score Sydnie Reese to take the lead in the top of the fourth as the score was now 4-3.

WVU Tech came right back with their third home run of the game this time a solo shot by Kaylie Lawrence, making it 4-4 entering the fifth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Welsh blasted her second home run of the game to left field to give the Pioneers the lead once again.

The Golden Bears then hit back-to-back home runs, one by Scarlet Janney and another one by Wilkens to move her total to two in the game and give WVU Tech an 6-4 lead.

The Pioneers struck again in the top of the sixth as Koi picked up her second hit of the game as she singled to center field to score Reese who had reached on a single to left field. The score was now tied once again this time at 6-6.

Gianna Welsh came through again, this time in the top of the seventh as she hit her third home run of the game to give the Pioneers the lead for good as they were able to shut down the Golden Bears offense in the bottom of the seventh and walk away with a 7-6 game one win.

Jaylyn Mullenax went the distance in the circle as she went all 7.0 innings giving up 10 hits and six runs, while striking out six.

Welsh led the Point Park offense going 3 for 3 with four RBIs, while Remi Koi went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Game 2:

Game two was all the Pioneers as they scored nine unanswered runs until the seventh inning when WVU Tech answered back with a solo home run. Point Park took game two 9-1 though to earn their sixth win in a row and their third RSC sweep in a row.

Point Park started the scoring off in the bottom of the second as Savannah Lee started the inning off with a single right field. Mackenzie Moore entered as a pinch runner for Lee.

Hayley O'Neil then advanced Moore to second on a single to the pitcher putting two runners on for Remi Koi.

Koi hit a fly ball to the right fielder that could not be handled, allowing Moore to score.

Melanie Taylor then singled to left field to score both O'Neil and Koi to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Pioneers scored two more in the fourth as Koi doubled to left field to score O'Neil who previously reached on a fielder's choice.

Taylor then struck again as she singled to center field to score Koi, pushing the lead to 5-0.

Point Park put another run on the board as Savannah Lee singled to left field to score pinch runner Raigan Chavez who had entered the game following a double by Gianna Welsh.

The Pioneers scored their final three runs of the game in the top of the seventh.

Kristyna Mala singled to center field to score Savannah Lee and advance Sydnie Reese to third. Reese then scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-0.

WVU Tech got one run back in the bottom of the seventh as Abby Gates hit a solo home run to right field to escape the shutout, but it was not enough as the Pioneers got out of the inning on a fly out to right field.

Savannah Lee earned the win as she went all 7.0 innings giving up only four hits and one run while striking out two.

Melanie Taylor led the Pioneer offense going 3 for 5 with three RBIs while Remi Koi went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Gianna Welsh and Savannah Lee both also went 2 for 4 with Lee picking up a run and an RBI.

With the two wins, Point Park moves to 19-17 overall and 12-12 in River States Conference play while WVU Tech falls to 10-27 overall and 6-20 in RSC play.

Point Park will now travel to Rio Grande (Ohio) to take on the Red Storm on Saturday in another RSC East Division Matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET