Box Score SALEM, V.A. – The Wheeling Jesuit softball team dropped their opening game of the Mountain East Conference championship tournament 0-8 against the Notre Dame College Falcons on Thursday.
 
The loss does not knock the Cardinals out of contention however. WJU will face the loser of the Urbana/Charleston game on Friday to compete toward the final in the losers bracket.
 
The loss puts the Cardinals at 16-32 overall this season, and 9-19 in MEC play.
 
The Falcons rode the momentum of a five-run 4^th inning to see themselves through to the 0-8 win. The Cardinals left 11 runners on base, and struggled to get the hits they needed to put up the runs.
 
Rachel Conrad led WJU with two hits, while Jarah Ice, Lorian Tharp, Erika Jusko, Skylar Berger, and Ali Smith each picked up a hit each.
 
Ali Smith picked up the loss for the Cardinals, pitching four innings and giving up seven runs before being relieved by Erika Jusko.
 
WJU will face the loser of the Charleston/ Urbana game, and will take the field again at Noon tomorrow.