Day two of Paden City’s two-game road trip through Southern West Virginia ended on a sour note, as the Wildcats fell to the Webster County Highlanders, 16-5, in a five-inning mercy-rule contest on Friday evening.

Webster County wasted no time jumping ahead, plating 14 runs over the first three innings to build an insurmountable lead. Paden City scratched across a run in the fourth and made a push with four more in the fifth, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome.

The Wildcats struggled to find their rhythm at the plate, managing just four hits on the night. Garrett Parish led the offense with a strong showing, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs. Jack Nelson and Jake Billiter recorded the only other hits for Paden City.

With the loss, the Wildcats wrap up their Southern West Virginia swing still searching for momentum as they look ahead to the rest of the season.