Fairmont, W. Va. - The Wheeling University Softball team (9-16, 2-8) returned to Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Divisional play when they hit the road to face Fairmont State on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals' hitters battled at the plate throughout the afternoon, but it wasn't enough as they got swept in Fairmont. They dropped the first game of the day 11-1 in five innings before coming back in a close three-run affair where they fell 6-3 in game two.
Game One: Fairmont State 11, Wheeling 1
The first game of the weekend saw Wheeling turn to freshman Randi Holder, who has been a mainstay in the Cardinals rotation since the team's Florida trip. However, the Falcons got to the freshman early, scoring four runs in the first two innings of the game to make it a 4-0 affair heading to the third. They got two runs in the first, and another run to start the second was enough to send Wheeling to the bullpen. Aubrie Lafferty came in to finish the inning, getting the final two outs, while allowing one inherited runner to score. She would end up throwing the final 3.2 innings of the game, giving up seven runs on five hits while walking four and striking out two.
The Falcons would build a 6-0 lead over the first four innings of the game before Wheeling got on the board in the top of the fifth. Makie Paxson reached on a one-out single to start the inning and stole second to get a runner in scoring position. Two batters later, Autumn Oehlstrom came to the plate with two outs and a runner in scoring position. She came through with an RBI single to get Wheeling on the board, making it a 6-1 game. However, Fairmont State would put up five runs in the bottom of that fifth to enact the eight-run rule and bring the game to its final 11-1 score.
Oehlstrom drove in Wheeling's only run and finished the afternoon 1-3 with that RBI as no Cardinals finished the day with multi hit efforts. The Cardinals finished the day with five hits as a team with Gina Fogle, Makie Paxson, Taylor Hradek, and Anna Florczak all picking up one hit in the game. Wheeling took the game one loss but looked to get back on their horse and earn a split in game two.
Game Two: Fairmont State 6, Wheeling 3
After falling behind early in the first game, Wheeling knew they would have to get on the board first to get momentum back on their side in game two. After neither team scored in the first, Wheeling got their wish as they scored first in the top of the second. Mia Smallwood would walk to start the inning and Alisa Shelt began her big day with a single to put two on with nobody out. Autumn Oehlstrom found her way on via a Fielder's Choice and the Cardinals manufactured a run. Oehlstrom was caught stealing at second, but it allowed Smallwood to steal home and put Wheeling up 1-0. However, the lead wouldn't last long as Fairmont State scored two in the bottom of the second and made it a 2-1 game.
Wheeling would keep it that way until the game moved to the top of the fourth after two quick outs. Alisa Shelt would get her second hit of the day to reach and Oehlstrom singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. Anna Florczak would take advantage with an RBI single, and things were all knotted up at 2-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth. Fairmont's offense wasn't done as they added four runs in the bottom of the fifth and put Wheeling behind 6-2 heading into the seventh. With one more chance the Cardinals would try and push across at least four to tie the game and force extras.
Things started out strong when Florczak singled to start the inning, but two batters later she had moved to second base with two outs. Taylor Hradek picked up her first RBI of the day with a single to center that brought home Florczak and made it a three-run game. Unfortunately, things would end there as they dropped the game 6-3 and fell victim to the doubleheader sweep to start their weekend.
Anna Florczak led the day for Wheeling, going 2-3 with an RBI in the loss while Alisa Shelt put together her best game of the season going 2-3. Taylor Hradek was the final Cardinal to finish with a multi-hit game, going 2-4 with an RBI in the loss. Abby Bumbico got the start for Wheeling and lasted four innings, giving up four runs on six hits while walking a batter. Jamie Anderson pitched the final two innings up the game and was charged with two runs on two hits while striking out a batter. The Cardinals fell to 2-8 in conference play and will hope to finish the weekend on a strong note.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Monday, April 4th, when they take on Frostburg State in doubleheader action beginning at 2 PM.
