Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 West Liberty, W.Va.---The Wheeling Jesuit softball team opened West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play 2-0 after sweeping West Liberty University on Thursday afternoon by scores of 9-1 and 5-3, respectively. The Cardinals improved to 9-13 overall while the Hilltoppers fell to 7-17 overall and 0-2 in league play.
 
Lorian Tharp paced WJU's offense in game one with a 3-for-3 performance which included two RBI, a double and a run scored. Jarah Ice, Erika Jusko, Skylar Berger, Ali Smith and Sammy Macioce all added hits.
 
Jesuit pitcher, Ashley Nichols, earned the win in five complete innings of work, scattering five hits, one earned run and a walk while collecting two strikeouts.
 
West Liberty started the scoring in the first inning when Maggie Starr homered to lead-off the game. Jesuit surged for with three runs in the third inning for a 3-1 advantage on three consecutive base hits. Ice started the rally and eventually scored after Tharp and Jusko singled. Jusko recorded the initial RBI, and three batters later, Berger plated two runs with a single to centerfield.
 
The Cardinals piled on five runs in the fourth inning and added another run in the fifth to complete the 9-1 victory.
 
In game two, Angie Reddick led the offense with a pair of hits. Victoria Vuljanic, Tharp and Berger added extra-base hits as Vuljanic homered and Tharp and Berger pounded out doubles.
 
Nichols picked up her second win of the day, hurling seven innings and allowing six hits with three earned runs and no walks with two strikeouts.
 
The Cardinals exploded for four runs in the third inning, which included three extra-base hits and a walk. Tharp started the rally with a walk and scored on a Reddick single. Berger doubled to plate Reddidk, and with one swing of the bat, Vuljanic cleared the bases. Jesuit added a run in the fourth inning as Tharp doubled to left field, plating Ice, who reached on a bunt for a base hit.
 
The Hilltoppers responded with two runs in the fourth inning on a single and back-to-back doubles. WLU added solo homerun in the sixth inning by Stacy Sumner, however, the Cardinals held on for the 5-3 win.
 
Wheeling Jesuit will be back in action on Tuesday, April 2 in Charleston, W.Va. The Cardinals will continue conference play against the University of Charleston. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.