Wisman deals, defense shines as Morgantown earns 3-0 shutout victory over Wheeling Park
MORGANTOWN – Morgantown softball head coach Lorri Lipscomb and her team know that winning is hard.
They also know it becomes a little easier when Maddie Wisman is doing what she is capable of in the circle.
Her shutout performance on Wednesday against Wheeling Park willed the Mohigans to a 3-0 victory on ISS Field at Mylan Park. Wisman tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout against the Patriots (8-14) with six strikeouts, including her 100th of the 2025 season.
MHS (15-8) only produced five hits from its offense but got it done defensively, as has been the case recently for Lipscomb's girls. Five of the last six wins for MHS have come while allowing one or fewer runs.
'Great game for Maddie today and great defense behind her in support,' Lipscomb said. 'Our bats weren't what they usually are for us, but we got enough of what we needed to string it together. Really proud of the effort out of our girls today.'
Despite the lack of offense throughout the game, there were some early fireworks for the Mohigans as they broke the ice in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs with two outs.
Liz Alsop stole both second and third base to put herself in position to score on a passed ball, and Wisman took home on a single by Kira Smith to give the hosts an early 2-0 advantage.
Both clubs came up empty in the next three innings as Wisman and Wheeling Park starting pitcher Emma Wear both settled in and quickly stacked outs.
The second, third, and fourth innings only saw one hit through six half innings when Paige Rhodes singled for MHS in the bottom of the fourth. Even then, the Patriots earned the next three outs in succession to halt the offense.
Wisman continued the trend in the top of the fifth by inducing three quick groundouts to second base, shortstop, and third base.
The Mohigans would slightly cushion their advantage in the bottom half of the inning as Maddie Stone reached base safely with a lead-off single. Anne Robinson laid down a bunt to move Stone to second, giving way to Grace Robinson, who slapped a single to center to bring Stone around from second for a 3-0 lead.
That's all Wisman would need to close the game out and give MHS its 15th win on the 2025 calendar, earning her sixth K to end it.
The Mohigans have gone 10-3 since March 28, when they were 5-5, and Coach Lipscomb says her team's willingness to fight has been the difference.
'We're gritty and we don't quit,' she said. 'These girls love each other and lift each other up on and off the field. It's just their mindset. If someone makes a mistake, someone else will be there to help. For example, on the play tonight when Maddie (Wisman) overthrew first, her right fielder (Maddie Stone) was there to back it up and throw the runner out going to second in the same play.'
Another special memory from Wednesday for Lipscomb and her team was the recognition of Armed Forces Day. Coach Lipscomb's brother, Retired Major Tom Lipscomb, threw out the first pitch.
'It means a lot,' she said. 'We hope to make this a yearly thing.'
BOX SCORE
Morgantown 3, Wheeling Park 0
WP 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
MHS 200 010 X – 3 5 1
Wheeling Park (8-14) – Thomas 3000 Cunningham 3010 Tipton 3000 Ernst 3000 Tamburin 2000 Randolph 2000 Bräunlich 2000 Bittner 2000 Wear 2000
2B: Cunningham
Morgantown (15-8) – A. Robinson 2010 G. Robinson 3011 Alsop 3100 Wisman 2100 Rhodes 2010 Smith 3011 B. Robinson 3000 Messerly 2000 Stone 2110
(W) Wisman: 7.0ip 1h 0r 0bb 6k
(L) Wear 6.0ip 5h 3r 2bb 5k
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