CLERMONT, Fla. – Compliments twice of runs in its final two at bats, the Wheeling Jesuit softball team's late-inning magic helped it take a season-opening pair of games over Tiffin, 5-3, and Gannon, 4-3 in eight innings Sunday night.
 
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the sixth, the Cardinals' (2-0) Kelsi Thompson belted a three-run double as part of a four-run at bat over the Dragons (1-1). WJU tied Gannon with two seventh-inning runs and scored the game-winning unearned run in extra innings and completed the day's sweep.
 
"We never gave up. Our players really showed what kind of heart and passion they have to win today. I am proud of what resiliency they showed," said WJU head coach Kelli Williams.
 
Redshirt junior Rachel Conrad made a big return to the WJU lineup. She lined four hits, including a double. Both Thompson, who was 3-for-3 in the opener, also lined four hits, while freshman Molly Welsh added three hits.
 
Mallory Chapman earned the opening win with eight strikeouts and two earned runs over seven innings. Freshman Erin Utterbrink picked up the second-game victory in her first collegiate start.
 
WJU returns back to the field for two Monday morning single games – against Findlay (9 a.m.) and Lake Erie College (11 a.m.)
 
vs. Tiffin
 
After three scoreless frames, the Dragons put the first three runs on the scoreboard with a two-run homer as the big hit.
 
In the top of the sixth, Cassie Holstein singled and Dana Achille drew a walk two batters later. Chapman lined home the first WJU run with a single, before the Thompson three-run double put the team ahead, 4-3.
 
The Cardinals added an insurance run in the top of the seventh for the 5-3 final.
 
Along with Thompson's 3-for-3 day, Holstein and Conrad singled twice.
 
vs. Gannon
 
Behind 3-1, Thompson singled and scored on a Conrad two-bagger. Following two outs, Ali Smith drew a pinch hit walk, before Victoria Scott singled in Conrad to tie the game, 3-3.
 
With the bases loaded and no outs in the home eighth, Thompson laid down a bunt where Welsh raced home with the game-winning run on an errand throw home for the 4-3 win.
 
Welsh doubled and singled twice, while Conrad doubled and singled. Morgan Stohlman and Scott each singled two times.
 

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th		R	H	E
WJU	0	0	0	0	0	4	1		5	8	2
Tiffin	0	0	0	3	0	0	0		3	8	2

 
WP: Mallory Chapman (1-0)
2B: Thompson (WJU); HR: Tiffin
 

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th		R	H	E
Gannon	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0		3	7	1
WJU	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	1		4	12	0

 
WP: Erin Utterbrink (1-0)
LP: Caryn Perich
2B: Welsh (WJU), Conrad (WJU)