Wheeling, W. Va. - On Friday, the Wheeling University Softball team opened their season up with a bang when they swept Salem in doubleheader action. They were rewarded for their strong start by sweeping the Mountain East Conference's (MEC) Weekly Softball Awards. Aubrie Lafferty earned the MEC Pitcher of the Week Award while Gina Fogle was named the MEC's Softball Player of the Week.

The Cardinals were able to pick up two big wins on Friday, beating the Tigers 7-3 in game one followed by an 8-0 run-rule win in game two. The first game saw the Wheeling offense pound out 10 hits to takedown Salem, while game two saw the pitchers take over with the first shutout effort of the season. Both Fogle and Lafferty were instrumental to their team's success in both games and got Wheeling off to a hot 2-0 start to start the season.

Gina Fogle got her season started strong going 4-8 in the two games with the home run, three RBI, and nine total bases. All three of those RBI came in the first game of the doubleheader as she accounted for almost half of her team's offense. After the team fell behind early, Fogle stepped up in the fifth inning, lifting a two-run home run to left field to tie the game at 3-3. Once her team got the lead, she helped ensure that they would stay there by driving an RBI double to left-center field that would bring the game to its eventual 7-3 final score.

After Wheeling secured their first win of the day, Aubrie Lafferty took the hill for game two looking to keep her team's success going. She did that and much more by turning in the first shutout effort of the season for her team. She went the complete 6.0 innings allowing just three hits while striking out five batters. Heading into the sixth inning, Lafferty had a no-hitter going and had allowed just two base runners, one on an error and the other via a fielder's choice. She earned her first win of the season and got her year off to a strong start in the circle.

Lafferty and Fogle are the 20th and 21st Wheeling University Student-Athletes to win the MEC's weekly Honors and the third and fourth players to take home awards this week. Baseball's Jacob Murray (MEC Baseball Player of the Week) and Men's Basketball's Jarett Haines (MEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week) each also took home awards. Lafferty and Fogle are the first two members of the Wheeling University Softball team to be honored this season.

The Wheeling University Softball team is back in action on Friday, February 25th, when they head to Owensboro, Kentucky to battle the University of Southern Indiana and Ashland University.