University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä softball standout pitcher Addison Mass has never lost to rival West Virginia State throughout her three-year career with the Golden Eagles and dominated the Yellow Jackets this season.
Mass threw a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts to lift host UC to a hard-fought 1-0 win over WVSU in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday. She followed it up with a save in a 6-5 win in the second game, completing the sweep.
In the first Golden Eagles-Yellow Jackets meeting on March 26, Mass threw her first career no-hitter against State in a 13-0 Golden Eagle shutout victory. In two games against WVSU this season, the junior has allowed just one hit in 13 innings, with two shutouts and 22 strikeouts.
“That was my first no-hitter, and it felt really good, especially to do it against State,†Mass said. “I had a one-hitter earlier in the year up until the seventh inning. I’ve been close before but never got all the way there. It felt great to finally get that.â€
Mass (14-3) was on her way to possibly throwing her second no-hitter against State on Wednesday after still not allowing a hit into the fifth inning. However, with one out, former Herbert Hoover standout Sydney Shamblin singled to left field to break it up.
“I had a goal for myself and wanted to keep a shutout, but I had no expectation of possibly throwing another no-hitter,†Mass said. “That’s because I know it’s probably not bound to happen, being it’s a long game.
“As the game went along, I started thinking about it deeper into it. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed when I gave up the hit, but it definitely did take some weight off my shoulders because now I didn’t have the no-hitter.â€
Then in the second game, with UC clinging to a 6-5 lead, Mass entered the game in the seventh inning, and got the save to complete the sweep for the Golden Eagles.
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Taylor Welch, the first-year coach at UC (21-11, 13-7 Mountain East), was proud of her ace pitcher in Mass.
“Addie has been a constant awesome throwing for us,†Welch said. “I’m super proud of her. She’s been a solid rock for us all year. Knowing what she did the first game in shutting them down, we just knew she was going to continue that in a tight spot in the second game.â€
Welch and UC also got a huge contribution in the second game from freshman Laila Varney, a former Herbert Hoover standout. She entered in relief in the fourth inning with State leading 5-3, pitched three shutout innings, didn’t allow a hit and got the win.
“I’m super proud of Laila,†Welch said. “She hasn’t got a ton of innings this year, so for her to come through in a very close game and put zeros on the board was really good for her. She has been working super hard, so it’s good to see her success tonight.â€
Varney, who was the high school state softball Player of the Year with the Huskies last year, is adjusting to her role with UC and was happy to be able to contribute in a big way for the Golden Eagles.
“It’s a lot different because I was pitching all the time in high school,†Varney said. “It felt really good to come in and not give up a hit. I just took it one pitch at a time and my defense had my back.â€
For WVSU (11-23, 3-17), Autumn Hall, a former Tug Valley standout, was the tough-luck losing pitcher in the first game. The junior allowed just one run on four hits. Brittny Ogg delivered an RBI double for the game’s only run in the fourth inning for UC.
“I’m very proud of Autumn,†State coach Mattie Best said. “She definitely kept us in the game. We were very excited to see her pitch that way. She has meant so much to our program. She’s a native West Virginian and I love when kids are local.â€
