Davidson's five RBI in Game 1, Wargel's one-hitter in Game 2 lead SSU SB to run-rule routs of WV Tech (12-4, 9-0)

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- Adversity has certainly hit the Shawnee State softball program early on in the 2025 season.

However, great coaches and players always find a way to overcome adversity -- and there are few ways better to overcome said adversity than by winning two games in mercy rule fashion.

From the outset of both contests in a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader against West Virginia Tech, Kristen Bradshaw's group controlled the proceedings, as the Bears received 21 runs on 29 hits in both games -- including a 3-for-4 hitting performance with two doubles and five RBI by Cameryn Davidson in Game 1 -- and got a one-hitter inside the circle from Shawnee State senior pitcher Emma Wargel in Game 2 to lift the Bears to 12-4 (6) and 9-0 (5) victories over the Golden Bears in a pair of River States Conference contests that were held at Doc Singleton Park in West Portsmouth.

Game Summaries

Shawnee State (4-6, 2-2 River States Conference) shot out to a 6-0 lead in the opening three frames of Game 1 and answered every West Virginia Tech salvo in its eight-run mercy rule win in the opener, then hit the afterburners by scoring five of its nine runs over the first two innings of Game 2 to cruise home to a five-inning mercy.

In Game 1, the Bears received five extra base hits and got multi-hit performances from five players, including Davidson, Sierra Dunnagan, Genavie Espinoza, Mackenzie Hale and Sydney Skiver, in the opener, then got multi-hit performances from Dunnagan, Hale, Emily Moore and Emily Cheatham in the second contest. Outside of the fifth inning in Game 1, Shawnee State scored in every inning that the Bears came to bat on Tuesday.

Game 1

The Bears wasted no time striking in the opener -- as Shawnee State did its early damage essentially right away.

Following a leadoff single by Sierra Dunnagan and a one-out walk by Bianca Belo-Diaz, an RBI single to right center by Genavie Espinoza allowed Dunnagan to score, while another RBI base knock by Mackenzie Hale scored Belo-Diaz to push the Bears' lead to a 2-0 margin after an inning of play.

The Bears continued to add to their lead in the second inning, as a leadoff triple to the right field corner by Sydney Skiver was followed by an RBI double to right by Cameryn Davidson, scoring Skiver and pushing the Shawnee State advantage to a 3-0 margin.

Then, after a sacrifice bunt by Emily Cheatham that moved Davidson to third base on the play, Davidson scored on Dunnagan's RBI single back up the middle of the diamond -- moving SSU's lead to a 4-0 count after two innings of work. Davidson then pushed the Shawnee State lead to 6-0 -- posting a two-RBI single to left field to score Hale and Espinoza in the third frame of action.

West Virginia Tech closed within 6-2 after the top half of the fourth -- but got no closer as Shawnee State countered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame as a walk by Jenna Christopher and an infield single by Bianca Belo-Diaz gave Espinoza the opportunity to drive in Christopher and Belo-Diaz with a long two-RBI single that put the Bears up by an 8-2 margin after four innings complete.

The Golden Bears closed to 8-4 after its half of the sixth -- but Shawnee State, in its turn to bat in the bottom of the sixth innings, countered with four runs -- as walks by Belo-Diaz and Madison Franz were followed by a power-packed ball from Hale that was ultimately ruled an RBI double, scoring Belo-Diaz. A sacrifice fly by Skiver and, fittingly, a two-RBI double by Davidson, closed the book on the 12-4 win in Game 1.

Pitching-wise, Espinoza picked up the win by going five full innings and allowing only two earned runs. West Virginia Tech loaded the bases on Espinoza in the first inning and got the leadoff batter on base via a walk in the second and third frames, but Espinoza was able to craft a way out of trouble each time due to her effective control pitching.

In addition to Davidson's 3-for-4 outing with two doubles, five RBI and a run scored, Hale (3-for-4, two doubles, two RBI, run scored), Espinoza (2-for-3, three RBI, run scored), Skiver (2-for-3, triple, RBI, run scored) and Dunnagan (2-for-4, RBI, run scored) rounded out the multi-hit performances for the Bears, while Belo-Diaz (1-for-2, two walks, three runs scored) and Cheatham (1-for-2) all contributed to the winning cause in Game 1.

Game 2

With a win already in the bag, Shawnee State showed no signs of satisfaction as the Bears immediately jumped on the scoreboard in Game 2.

After Jenna Christopher stole second base to move into scoring position, Mackenzie Hale's RBI single, which was roped to right field, scored Christopher -- and after a single by Cameryn Davidson moved Hale to second base, Emily Moore dropped in a single between third base and left field to score courtesy runner Haley Hawes -- giving Shawnee State a 2-0 cushion after the opening frame.

The Bears then added to the lead quickly in the second inning, posting three runs in the frame as a leadoff walk and a steal of second by Kiera Williams was followed by a single by Emily Cheatham and a throwing error on a stolen base by Cheatham that allowed Williams to score.

Sierra Dunnagan then came up and drove a lined shot up the center of the diamond to score Cheatham, and two batters later, Bianca Belo-Diaz drove in one of her two California teammates in Dunnagan with an RBI single of her own -- pushing the SSU lead to 5-0 after two innings complete.

Shawnee State then proceeded to blow the contest wide open in the third and fourth frames -- as singles by Moore and Williams led to an RBI single by Cheatham that drove in Williams and also scored Sydney Skiver on the throw to second base, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead after three innings of work.

SSU then added three runs in the fourth frame again -- as a leadoff double by Dunnagan and an RBI single by Christopher was followed by a walk by Belo-Diaz and three consecutive singles from Hale, Davidson and Moore -- the latter two of which brought in a run each -- to conclude matters.

Pitching-wise, Emma Wargel proved to be in control from the opening pitch -- as the senior allowed only a two-out single by West Virginia Tech's Kaylee Waddell in the second frame of action. Wargel struck out five batters and only walked one in what ended up being a complete game triumph.

Batting-wise, Shawnee State was led by Moore and Dunnagan, who went a combined 6-for-6 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored between them. Cheatham, Davidson and Hale each went 2-for-3 in Game 2 with an RBI -- with Cheatham and Hale scoring a run each -- while Belo-Diaz (1-for-2, walk, RBI, run scored), Williams (1-for-2, walk, run scored) and Christopher (1-for-3, RBI, run scored) all reached the hit column in Game 2, as well.

Additional

The softball program at Shawnee State returns to action Friday afternoon as the Bears take on Indiana-Southeast (7-5, 5-1 River States Conference) in a RSC doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Koetter Sports Softball Complex in New Albany, Ind.