By: Connor Castle

The West Virginia Wesleyan College softball team faced early-season adversity during their annual spring break trip to Clermont, Florida, finishing with an 0-4 record against a competitive slate of opponents.

The trip opened against a strong St. Cloud State squad, with the Bobcats falling 14-0 in six innings. Defensive struggles and missed opportunities at the plate made for a tough start, though Alyssa Rohr and Kendall Stoffel each recorded hits.

The next day brought another challenge in Clarion University. Despite a complete-game shutout from Clarion’s Emma Hipps, the Bobcats showed flashes of potential. Gracey Arnold went 1-for-2 at the plate, and Stoffel added a double, though the team ultimately lost 8-0, once again in six innings.

In their third game, Wesleyan took on Tiffin University, where the offense remained quiet. Rohr collected two of the team’s four total hits, but the Bobcats were shut out 8-0 for a third straight game.

The final matchup, however, showed the team’s resilience. Facing Southern New Hampshire University, the Lady Bobcats stayed competitive, losing 5-3 in a back-and-forth contest. Andie Dizon delivered a key two-RBI double in the fifth inning, and Lynzee Hague added an RBI single in the sixth to bring Wesleyan within reach. Despite the loss, it was a promising sign of growth and determination.

Through the challenges, the team found valuable lessons in minimizing errors, finding consistency at the plate, and responding to high-level competition. The players remain optimistic about the road ahead.

“My best memory of softball here is when we swept Glenville last year,” said Sydney Leadbetter. “Our team’s biggest strengths are being able to overcome adversity and work with each other on and off the field. Our goal this year is to make the MEC Tournament—and we’re locked in on doing everything we can to get there.”

The Lady Bobcats will return home on April 5th to face Fairmont State in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM. On April 6th, they’ll take on Glenville State in another two-game series, starting at 12:00 PM. With conference play ahead, the team is focused on turning lessons from Florida into wins down the stretch.

For updates on the West Virginia Wesleyan softball team, including schedules and game results, visit the official athletics website at wesleyanbobcats.com.

Photo by WVWC Softball