Winter Haven, FL. – After coming through with a pair of wins on the first day of their Spring Trip to Winter Haven, the Wheeling University Softball team (6-5, 0-0) were back in action on Tuesday. They opened the day with a 9-0 loss at the hands of East Stroudsburg, and came back with a down-to-the-wire 8-7 loss to CAL-U. In both games, the Cardinals battled at the plate, but they were cut down and fall to 2-2 so far on their spring Florida trip.

Game One: East Stroudsburg 9, Wheeling 0

The Cardinals began day two on a bit of a delay due to inclement weather, but were in action at 11 AM when they battled East Stroudsburg. However, through the first six innings of the game, Wheeling battled and stayed in the game. Jenee Brodeur got the start and allowed two runs in the first, but was able to limit the damage and get Wheeling to the bat racks. With two outs, the Cardinals threatened to answer when Makie Paxson singled, Brooke Slomkowski reached on a fielder's choice, and Autumn Oehlstrom singled to load the bases with two out. However, the inning ended when Paxson got cut down at the plate in a fielder's choice. The Cardinals got in trouble in the second after a leadoff double, but called on Madison Macy to get them out of the jam.

She started the inning with a groundout that moved the runner to third with one out, but ended the inning with two ground outs to leave the runner stranded at third. However, the Warriors were back on the board in the top of the third, putting up two runs and added another in the fourth that made it a 5-0 Warriors lead. The big blow came in the top of the sixth inning when the Warriors put up a four spot and made it a 9-0 game. Wheeling came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth looking to keep the game alive. Brooke Slomkowski singled to start the inning, but was cut down on a Fielder's Choice one batter later. Cass Feyh would ground out and end the game in the third run-rule loss for the team this season.

There were no Cardinals with multiple hits on the day, but six different Cardinals ended the day with hits. Makie Paxson and Maddie Munoz each went 1-2 and Taylor Hradek, Brooke Slomkowski, and Autumn Oehlstrom each added 1-3 days to their day. Brodeur got that start and went 1.0 inning while allowing the two runs, and Macy finished the final 5.0 innings giving up seven runs, five earned, while walking one and striking out three. The Cardinals looked for a bounce back as they went into Game two.

Game Two: CAL-U 8, Wheeling 7

In game two, both teams brought out the sticks as it came down to the wire in the seventh inning. Both offenses came to play as everytime CAL-U scored, Wheeling responded. Early on, the Vulcans we're the ones on the board as they scored two runs and took a 2-0 lead. Wheeling responded the very next inning when Slomkowski walked with one out. Cassie Feyh added a single and loaded the bases for Alisa Shelt with one out. She drew the bases loaded walk, but the inning ended with a groundout and the score remained 2-1. The Vulcans were back on the board in the bottom of the inning, adding two more runs and it was a 4-1 lead for Cal-U. As the game moved to the top of the fourth, the Cardinals were back on the bat racks and made it a game.

Gina Fogle singled to start the fourth and Kelsi Green relieved her stealing second. A groundout moved her to third before Cassi Roman picked up her seventh RBI to make it a 4-2 game. Make Paxson drew a walk and then helped manufacture a run with a delayed steal that allowed Munoz to steal home and make it a 4-3 game. Slomkowski was up next and she lifted her second home run of the trip to left and gave the Cardinals their first lead at 5-4. Cal-U retook the lead with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth and led 6-5 after four. They got another run in the bottom of the fifth, and held a two-run advantage heading into the final two innings.

A wild pitch allowed Taylor Hradek to score after a pinch hit single, and CAL-U added a run in the bottom of the sixth to bring it to an 8-6 game heading to the seventh. The Cardinals nearly tied the game in the top of the seventh with two outs. Autumn Oehlstrom singled to start things and moved to second on a wild pitch. Gina Fogle then stepped up and lined an RBI double to left to bring the score to 8-7. Fogle advanced on a wild pitch to put the winning run 60-feet away. Unfortunately, she would stay there as a groundout ended the inning and finished Wheeling's day 0-2.

The Cardinals had two players ending with a multi-hit game, but Slomkowski led the offense going 1-2 with the big two-run home run. Gina Fogle went 2-3 with an RBI and Autumn Oehlstrom added a 2-4 effort on the day. Jamie Anderson got the start and went 4.1 innings allowing seven runs, five earned, while walking two and striking out one. Aubrie Lafferty finished the game going 1.2 innings allowing just one run on two hits.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Thursday, March 10th, when they battle Edinboro and Northwoods University.