Morgantown Upsets Top-Seeded Cabell Midland

 By Ben Anderson


    People always say that “defense” is the name of the game in softball, for the Morgantown Mohigans, that proved to be true in its 3-0 victory over top-seeded Cabell Midland Knights in the winner’s bracket game of the 2026 WVSSAC Class AAAA State Softball Tournament on Wednesday morning. 


    The Mohigans’ defensive spectacle started in the top of the second, when third baseman Carolina Mallow made a diving catch behind home plate on a bunt attempt to strand two Knights runners. The Mohigans also added another amazing diving catch from second baseman Grace Robinson.


    “I told them that proves to you right there that you’re one of the best teams in the state,” Mohigans head coach Lorrie Lipscomb said. “You deserve to be here, and you can win a state championship.”


    Morgantown broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third when Carper Messerly scored on an aggressive, heads-up play, by tagging up for home on a foul fly out to first base.


    Madison Wiseman, pitching her second complete game in as many days, dominated allowing just one hit, and three walks, while punching out six against a Knights team that scored nine runs against Jefferson yesterday.


    “She’s commanding the circle,” Lipscomb said. “That’s what we talked about a lot when she goes out. I always tell her, what are going to do? She’s going to say command the circle. She puts the work in, not just on the field, but off the field, preparing, looking at highlights, coming up with a gameplan as far as pitch sequences and everything.”


    Morgantown switched up its offensive approach in the seventh inning, by attempting two bunt attempts that resulted in two runs from fielding errors. 


    “That was part of our game plan,” Lipscomb said. “We knew that when we got opportunities, we had to lay the bunts down and execute them, and they did. We had to get them on, get them over, and get them in. That’s been our philosophy all year, so great job in the short game today.”


    With the win, Morgantown advances to the winner’s bracket where they will play either Hurricane or University. Cabell Midland will play later tonight in an elimination game against Parkersburg South. 


MORGANTOWN 001 000 2 – 3 3 0

CABELL MIDLAND 000 000 0 – 0 1 3

Pitching: M: Wiseman, & Smith; CB: Watts, & McCallister

Hitting: M: Stone: 2-3, RBI; CB: Salmons: 1-2


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