Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Winter Haven, Fl. – The Wheeling University Softball team (6-3, 0-0) started their spring trip with a bang, knocking out 24 runs in their two games on day one. They picked up the doubleheader sweep, taking care of Bloomsfield 16-7 and following it up with an 8-1 win over Ashland. With six more games ahead of them, it was a good start as they hit their final stretch before the start of Mountain East Conference (MEC) play.

Game One: Wheeling 16, Bloomfield 7

Although the final score didn't indicate it, this game was neck and neck heading into the final inning. The two teams were tied at 7-7 and the Cardinals were looking for a way to push that final run across. The inning began with a single by Madison Macy and a double from Autumn Oehlstrom put runners at second and third with nobody out. Maddie Munoz would drive across that go-ahead run with an RBI single that gave Wheeling the 8-7 lead. They would add on plenty more after that as Taylor Hradek brought both runners home with a two-RBI single and two batters later Brooke Slomkowski singled in in a run to make it an 11-7 game. Cass Roman would single in another run after a wild pitch made it a 13-7 game. The Cardinals would bat around in that seventh inning and Macy, Oehlstrom, and Munoz would all pick up another RBI as part of the eight-run seventh.

There were several Cardinals players who had bug days in game one, but the leader was Cass Roman. Roman finished 4-5 with four RBI, a home run, and two runs scored in the win. She was one of two Cardinals players with four-hit games as Maddie Munoz went 4-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Taylor Hradek also had a four-RBI day for the Cardinals going 3-6 and Brooke Slomkowski went 3-3 with two walks, three RBI, and two runs scored. The Cardinals pounded out 22 hits in the game and all but two of the starting nine finished with at least two hits in the game. Four Cardinals finished with three or more RBI as the offense backed up their pitching staff and stayed with a competitive Bloomfield team.

Before that eruption in the seventh, the two teams were trading runs for most of the night. Bloomfield scored an early run in the second inning, and Wheeling responded with a Slomkowski RBI single to tie the game at one. Wheeling took their first lead in the fourth inning on a Cassi Roman solo home run, but the Bears scored two in the fourth to make it a 3-2 game. Slomkowski was at it again in the fifth when she launched a solo home run to tie things at 3-3, but Bloomfield had two more runs in the fifth and was out in front again 5-3. The Cardinals took the lead back in the sixth on RBI singles from Taylor Hradek and Cassi Roman, each driving in two runs, to make it 7-5. Bloomfield answered with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth that set up the seventh inning mayhem.

It was a good Kickstarter for the team and gave them momentum heading into game two of the day.

Game Two: Wheeling 8, Ashland 1

In the second game of the day, there wasn't nearly as much offense to go around as the pitchers took over in the circle. Aubrie Lafferty got the start for the Cardinals and went the complete game allowing just one earned run on eight hits while walking three and striking out five. She gave up her one and only run right in the first inning, but held the Eagles off the board the rest of the way. The Cardinals' offense picked her up in the top of the second after Oehlstrom drew a one-out walk. Gina Fogle followed her up with a walk and Cassie Feyh drove in a run with an RBI single. Alisa Shelt drew a two-out walk before Maddie Munoz lifted a sacrifice fly that brought home a run and ended the inning with the score at 2-1.

It remained a 2-1 game until the Cardinals put things out of reach in the top of the fifth inning. Shelt singled to start the inning and Maddie Munoz reached on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, the Cardinals brought in their first run when Makie Paxson reached on an error bringing home Shelt. Then, the Cardinals manufactured a run bringing home another run when Paxson stole home to make it 4-1. Slomkowski was up next and drove in another run with an RBI single that made it 5-1 as the hits kept on coming. Roman would finish the inning with her second home run of the day, a two-run shot that turned it into a 7-1 affair and put the Cardinals we'll ahead for good. Wheeling added one more run on a sacrifice fly from Fogle and brought the game to its final score of 8-1.

Roman once again led the offense in game two, going 2-3 with two RBI and a home run in the game. She was the only Cardinal player with a multi-hit game and the only one with Multiple RBI. Slomkowski went 1-4 with an RBI in the game and Cassie Feyh added a 1-3 night of her own with an RBI. The Cardinals now have a 2-0 record in Florida to start this eight-game trip as they look to keep the winning ways going as they move into day two of action.

The Cardinals return to the field on Tuesday, March 8th, with the first game against East Stroudsburg at 9 AM. Game two will be played against CAL-U with first pitch at 1:30 pm.