Morgantown, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Softball team (2-0, 0-0) started their season out strong with a doubleheader sweep over Salem University. They took game one 7-3 before earning an eight-run rule win in the second game of the day. 

Game 1: Wheeling 7, Salem 3

In game one, the Cardinals came out early on offense behind pitcher Jamie Anderson. After a flyout to start the inning, Makie Paxon would single, advance to second on a throwing error, and steal third base setting up a runner at third and one out. That brought Brooke Slomkowski to the plate and she lifted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Paxon and putting Wheeling ahead 1-0. Jamie Anderson got the start in the circle for Wheeling and although she had to throw a lot of pitches early, she held Salem off the board. She threw up three consecutive zeros to start the game, but Salem's bats would get going in the bottom of the fourth.

The Tigers tacked on three runs in the bottom of the inning and took a 3-1 lead over Wheeling. It looked like the game would remain tied in the fifth as Wheeling had its first two outs quickly, but Slomkowski kept the inning alive with a two-out single to left. That brought Gina Fogle to the plate, and Fogle lifted her first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to left field to bring the game even at 3-3. Fogle finished with two home runs last season and had her power stroke working in her team's opener.

The Cardinals would seal the deal in the sixth inning, busting out for four runs in the inning to retake the lead for good. Cassi Roman started the inning with a pinch-hit single and then stole second before Autumn Oehlstrom drew a walk. Alisa Shelt would get the scoring started with a single to right, bringing home Roman and making it 4-3. Oehlstrom was thrown out at third on the play, setting up a runner at second and one out. Taylor Hradek would come through with her first RBI of the day with a double and brought the score to 5-3. Slomkowski added a sacrifice fly and Fogle drove in her third run of the game with a double that brought the game to 7-3. Abby Bumbico pitched the final three innings of the game and earned her first save of the season as Wheeling picked up the 7-3 win.

Fogle led the Cardinals at the plate going 2-4 with a home run and three RBI in game one and was one of three Cardinals with multi-hit games. Alisa Shelt added a 2-4 effort while driving in a run and Hradek added a 2-4 day with an RBI of her own. Jamie Anderson got the start and threw 4.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits while walking four and striking out one.

Game 2: Wheeling 8, Salem 0

The two teams were loved in a pitchers duel early on as Wheeling's Aubrey Lafferty took the circle. The sophomore was on fire throughout the day as she goes the complete game and picks up her first shutout win of the season. She didn't allow her first hit of the game until the sixth inning, allowing just two base runners prior to that. She walked just one batter over her six innings of work and struck out five. She got into a bit of a jam in the bottom of the sixth as the Tigers loaded the bases with one out. Lafferty would draw two fielders' choices to keep the shutout alive and end the threat.

After being held off the board for the first four innings, the Cardinals got things going in the top of the fourth. Marissa Sanchez singled to start the inning, followed by a fielder's choice from Cassie Roman and a walk for Oehlstrom. That brought Cassie Feyh to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. She quickly blasted a grand slam over the left-field wall for her first home run of the season. It was the first home run of her collegiate career and had the Cardinals staked to the early lead. The Cardinals had a few more runners on base but couldn't bring them home as the score sat at 4-0.

The Cardinals would enact the 8-run rule in the top of the sixth when they plated the two runs that pushed the score to 8-0. With one out in the inning, Gina Fogle would double to give the Cardinals a runner in scoring position. She would come home one batter later when Marissa Sanchez singled to turn it into a 7-0 game. After a ground out moved the runner to third, Oehlstrom drove in another run with an RBI single that brought the game to its 8-0 final score. Lafferty hit her only trouble of the game in the bottom of the sixth but worked her way out of it to keep the score at 8-0 and secure the Cardinal's second win of the day.

Oelhstrom and Sanchez led the offense in game two for the Cardinals with each picking up three hits. Sanchez finished 3-4 with an RBI while Oehlstrom added a 3-3 effort with an RBI. Slomkowski and Fogle each added two-hit efforts in the game. Lafferty finished the day with a complete game as she led her team to the doubleheader sweep.

The Wheeling University Softball team is back in action on Friday, February 25th, when they head to Owensboro, Kentucky for six games.