NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Mountaineer softball earned a 5-4 win over Barton in nine innings before dropping a 5-2 final to West Virginia Tech to split Thursday's games at the Fastpitch Dreams Classic.
 
In the opener against Barton, the Mounties pushed across a pair of runs in the first to take an early lead. Alli McGovern started the scoring by reaching on a fielder's choice then scoring on a throwing error. Lesley Fritz drove in Deshae Jones later in the inning to put Mansfield (5-2, 0-0 PSAC Central) ahead 2-0.
 
Barton (4-11, 0-0 CC) got one back in the bottom of the inning to cut its deficit to 2-1.
 
In the top of the second, Joelle Snyder delivered a two-out triple, but was left stranded.
 
The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when they hit back-to-back singles to set up a two RBI double by Jessica Onega.
 
Mansfield put a runner in scoring position in the fifth, but would not tie the game until the top of the seventh when Lacey O'Donnell got aboard with a lead-off single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Snyder brought in the rookie with a single through the right side to tie the game at 3-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Kelsey Carroll reached with a one-out single and moved over to third with a stolen base and a wild pitch. Mountie reliever Alexis Easling ended the inning with a groundout to force extra innings.
 
Both sides went down 1-2-3 in the eighth to move to the ninth where the tie-breaker rule placed a runner on second to start the inning.
 
O'Donnell came through with a one-out single and later moved to second on a fly ball to put herself and Devin Jones in scoring position. Alli McGovern and Deshae Jones followed with RBI hits to put the Mounties up 5-3.
 
Barton pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the inning, but left a runner in scoring position as Mansfield held on for the win.
 
Alexis Easling won her third game in the circle, pitching 5.2 innings in relief with five strikeouts, no walks, and no earned runs. Starting pitcher Arianna Young tossed 3.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts and no walks allowed.
 
Sierra Hearp went the distance for the Bulldogs, but took the loss.
 
Snyder accounted for four of the Mountaineers' 12 hits in the game going 4-5 at the plate with an RBI.
 
In game two, the Mounties put at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings, but could not capitalize. 
 
Neither side would push a run across until the seventh inning when West Virginia Tech hung five runs on four hits and an error.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Hannah Breitigan drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner Alex Hein stole second then moved to third on a groundout. Snyder singled to put runners on the corners before an error allowed both runs to score.
 
Mansfield was unable to complete the rally and dropped the game 5-2.
 
Karina Antanacio earned the complete game win for Tech striking out eight with four walks and no earned runs.
 
Meghan McGinley pitched 6.0 innings with four strikeouts, a walk and two earned runs. Young pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief with a strikeout and Connor Decker 1/3 of an inning.
 
Mansfield completes its spring break trip against Chestnut Hill on Friday.