Softball 2/29/2016 9:32:00 PM Chris Myers

WJU Uses Late-Frames for Second Softball Sweep

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
CLERMONT, Fla. – In the opening two days of the 2016 season, Wheeling Jesuit seems to be a late-frame type of team. The Cardinals used their final at bat for the needed runs and posted their second sweep – 6-2 over Findlay and 11-5 in eight innings over Lake Erie College.

A Dana Achille two-run double capped a five-score home sixth inning for WJU (4-0) over Findlay (2-3). Erin Utterbrink pitched a hitless final 2.2 innings for the win in relief.

In the second-morning contest, the Cardinals plated three-tying runs in the sixth, before they produced six more in the eighth to defeat the Storm (3-1). Freshman pitcher Kori Locke locked down the Lake Erie hitters over the final six innings where she allowed only one hit and no runs.

"Our players' effort was phenomenal today as they did not give up on anything, which makes the coaching staff very proud. The team showed great determination on wanting to win," pointed out WJU head coach Kelli Williams.

Rachel Conrad produced her second top day at the plate in a row. The junior lined five hits with a double. Achille was right behind her with the two-run double in the first game and added a 3 for 3 second game with a pair of doubles.

Molly Welsh and Morgan Stohlman contributed two singles apiece.

WJU has another contest against Lake Erie College (9 a.m.) Tuesday morning, March 1. It completes the third day with the toughest foe of the early season in No. 5 ranked Missouri-St. Louis.

vs. Findlay

Trailing 2-1, WJU received a Victoria Scott leadoff walk. Welsh laid down a sac bunt, but the Oilers infielders fired the ball into the outfield far enough for both Cardinals' runners to rush around and score.

Cassie Holstein and Conrad singled and Utterbrink reached on a fielder's choice. Stohlman drove home the third-run of the inning, before Achille's two-run double to make it 6-2.

Utterbrink completed her hitless 2.2 innings for her second victory.

vs. Lake Erie

The Storm pushed across three in the second and two in the third and opened a 5-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Achille doubled home Conrad, who had a leadoff single, and later scored herself on a Lake Erie error for a 5-2 score.

Two innings later, Stohlman drove home Conrad, who again had a leadoff hit, before she later ran home on a passed ball. Scott tied the game, 5-5, with a run on a passed ball.

In extra frames, Scott and Marissa Cangelosi had RBI singles, while Conrad belted a two-run double as part of WJU's six-run at bat and eventual 11-5 final.