Glenville, W. Va. – It was a home game on the road for the Wheeling University Softball team (9-20, 2-12) as they traveled to Glenville State on Wednesday. It was a home game for the Cardinals on the Pioneers field after rain forced a postponement for the game that was originally scheduled for Sunday in Wheeling. The Cardinals would battle throughout the day, but fell in game one 8-2 before falling in a close battle 4-1 in game two.

Game One: Glenville State 8, Wheeling 2

 The first game of the day saw the Pioneers build an early lead and force the Cardinals to play from behind. The Pioneers scored four runs in the first inning off starter Abby Bumbico as they racked up four first inning hits. Bumbico would last 2.1 innings in the game while giving up six runs, four earned, n six hits while walking a batter. The Cardinals would have a tough task ahead of them as they had to battle againtlst one of the MEC's top pitchers in Holly Brehm. Brehm broke the Glenville single-season strikeout record in her last start and Wheeling was looking to break through. Unfortunately the Cardinal offense was held at bay over the first five innings with the only base runner coming on an Autumn Ohelstrom walk back in the second inning.

Meanwhile, the Pioneers added three more runs in the top of the third and led 7-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning. The Cardinals woulcall on sophomore Aubrie Lafferty in relief and the right-hander was able to hold the Pioneers at bat the rest of the afternoon. She pitched the game's final 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out a batter.  She picked up 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth innings and faced just four batters in the sixth to keep the Pioneers at just seven runs. While Lafferty was working in the circle, she allowed her team time to figure out Brehm and they rewarded her when they broke through in the bottom of the fifth for their first runs of the game.

Junior Gina Fogle busted the no-hitter to start the inning and was pinch ran for by Natalie Stoner, who stole second to give Wheeling their first runner in scoring position. Two batters later, Alisa Shelt came through with an RBI double to left that scored Stoner and made it a 7-1 affair. Brooke Webber stepped up next and on the very first pitch brought Shelt home with an RBI single that made it a 7-2 game. However, the rally ended there and it would be a 7-2 game heading into the sixth inning. Glenville State would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning and the Cardinals couldn't respond bringing the game to it's final score of 8-2.

The bottom of the Cardinals lineup provided the fire power for the Cardinals with Shelt and Webber leading the way.  Webber would finish 1-2 with an RBI while Shelt followed right behind her going 1-3 with an RBI. The other two hits came courtesy of Gina Fogle and Anna Florczak rounding out the Cardinals offensive attack. Wheeling would look for a bounce back effort in game two as they tried to even the doubleheader.
Game Two: Glenville State 4, Wheeling 1

The second game of the day was a classic pitcher's duel as Wheeling's Jamie Anderson battled Glenville State's  Madison Thimmes. The batters got things started with the Pioneers scoring in the first and Wheeling followed with a run in their half of the inning. After a one out single from Makie Paxson and a walk by Gina Fogle, Anna Florczak grounded into a fielder's choice that put runners at the corner with two outs. Alisa Shelt would then walk to load the bases bringing up the pitcher Jamie Anderson with two outs. Anderson came through with an RBI single to left scoring Paxson, but Florczak was thrown out at the plate to keep it at a 1-1 game and end the inning. Then, the battle commenced with the two pitchers trading zeroes for the next four innings.

Anderson turned in what was her best start of the season even though she picked up the loss in the game. She pitched the complete 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out one. She had one 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, but was able to limit the amount of traffic on the base paths throughout the game. The Pioneers added three of their four runs in the top of the sixth that made it a 4-1 game. The Pioneers called on Brehm in relief in game two and the Cardinals could not figure the right hander our. They went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh and ended the afternoon with their second loss of the day by that same 4-1 score. 

 In game two, Jamie Anderson did it all pitching a gem in the circle while coming through with her team's only RBI of the day. She went 1-3 with a single and an RBI at the plate while allowing the four runs over her seven innings. Natalie Stoner took advantage of the game two start and was the only Cardinal with a multi-hit game going 2-2. Makie Paxson picked up Wheeling's final hit to round out the afternoon. Wheeling now sits 9-20 on the season and 2-12 in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play as they continue this road trip of home games.

The Wheeling University Softball team is back in action on Wednesday, April 13th, when they head on the road to face Concord in what will be a Wheeling home game at 1 PM. It will be the continuation of a suspended game from Monday and will begin in the bottom of the fourth with Concord leading 9-2. The Cardinals are batting with the bases loaded and one out.