When a team gets hot up and down the lineup, hitting seems to become contagious in a hurry.

The Shawnee State softball program started out the opening day of the River States Conference Softball Tournament firing on all cylinders Thursday afternoon, as the Bears received a two-hitter inside the circle from Shawnee State senior pitching standout Cassie Berry and received base hits from seven different SSU players, with five of those talents recording multi-hit performances, in a wire-to-wire, 7-1 triumph over the Midway Eagles' softball program at Little Creek Park in South Charleston, W. Va.

Thursday's triumph not only moved Shawnee State to 34-9 on the year but has the Bears within two victories from tying the 1999 Shawnee State softball team for the fifth-most victories in program history in a single season. The 1999 team was also the last SSU team to win at least 31 games in a year -- prior to the historic tear that the Bears are on this season. SSU also sits just four victories away from matching the 1998 unit's 38 wins, which is currently fourth in program history.

Highlights

Following a fantastically turned double-play that was started by a beautiful snag and throwout by shortstop Amariah Hoerner to end the top half of the first frame, Shawnee State seemingly carried that momentum into the bottom half of the same inning. Leadoff batter Jenna Christopher, who singled, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt to Cassie Berry.

Three-hole hitter Lauren Spears then came up large by driving an Alexia Hoskins pitch deep to center field, which one-hopped over the fence, allowing Christopher to score on the RBI ground rule double. Spears then scored on an RBI base knock down the right field line by Sierra Dunnagan -- increasing the Bears' lead to a much-needed 2-0 advantage after an inning of work.

In the second inning, a pair of walks and stolen bases allowed Midway to cut the lead in half, 2-1, on a sacrifice fly RBI by Peyton Baum. Berry, however, was able to hold the tying runner at third base by inducing a flyout, and after allowing a leadoff double to begin the third frame, did the same by striking out Midway's Carly Jones while forcing the Eagles' Kennadi Thompson into a groundout, allowing Shawnee State to hold a 2-1 advantage.

Berry then retired Midway in order in the fourth frame, and in the bottom half of the same inning, Shawnee State erupted.

With one out, Lexie Lockwood singled and advanced to second base on a throwing error by Midway, and one batter later, Cameryn Davidson followed with a single of her own to move Lockwood over to third base. The following batter, Brittani Wolfenbarker, then drove in both Lockwood and Davidson with a two-RBI double down the left field line to push the SSU lead to a 4-1 margin.

When Christopher came back up to the plate, the leadoff hitter singled and stole second base, opening the door for Berry to drive in Wolfenbarker with a sacrifice fly RBI. Then, after a Spears free pass, Dunnagan singled back up the middle of the diamond to complete the four-run fourth -- and give Shawnee State all the breathing room it needed as the Bears emerged with a 6-1 lead.

Berry, who followed up her clean fourth inning with a spotless fifth frame, had little trouble the rest of the way -- while Gracey McCullough, who came up to lead off the fifth frame as a pinch-hitter, posted an electrifying inside-the-park home run in the fifth frame to push the lead to a 7-1 triumph. Amariah Hoerner came on to pitch the seventh inning of work, with the sophomore striking out two of the three batters that she faced to complete the six-run victory.

Additional

Shawnee State was led by Brittani Wolfenbarker and Cameryn Davidson, who each went 3-for-3 with a run scored -- with Wolfenbarker adding in a two-RBI double to boot -- at the bottom of the SSU lineup to head up the charge offensively. Spears (2-for-3, double, walk, RBI, run scored), Dunnagan (2-for-4, two RBI) and Christopher (2-for-4, two runs scored) joined the previously mentioned duo in the multi-hit column, while Bianca Belo-Diaz (1-for-3, home run, RBI, run scored) and Lexie Lockwood (1-for-3, run scored) rounded out the Shawnee State contingent.

With Thursday's victory, Shawnee State will play Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods -- a No. 2 seed out of the RSC West Division -- at 10 a.m. Friday morning on Field 2.

All games will be held at Little Creek Park in South Charleston, W. Va. as is the case for the entirety of the tournament.

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