Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Softball team (10-29, 3-21) returned home for the first time in over a month when they hosted Frostburg State on Saturday. The Cardinals battled throughout the afternoon, but fell in both games of the doubleheader. They dropped game one 10-6, scoring four runs late, before dropping the second game 8-6. They head into the final week of the regular season looking to reek havoc in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) playoffs.

Game One: Frostburg State 10, Wheeling 6

The opener of  Saturday's doubleheader was a back and forth battle throughout the afternoon between the Cardinals and Bobcats. The Bobcats got off to the hot start, however, putting up a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Wheeling would come back in the bottom of the first when Gina Fogle was hit by a pitch and Makie Paxson singled to start the inning. After a groundout kept runners at first and second with one out. Brooke Slomkowski came to the plate and got her big day started with an RBI single that tied the game at 1-1. 

Junior Madison Macy put up a zero in the second inning and her offense would reward her with their first lead of the day. Taylor Hradek would reach on a one-out single and two batters later Autumn Oehlstrom would pick her up with an RBI single that put Wheeling in the drivers seat leading 2-1 after three. However, the Bobcats offense would wake up, scoring nine runs over the next three innings to take the lead and make it 10-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth. The lone Wheeling run during that stretch came on a Gina Fogle RBI triple as the Cardinals looked to fight back.

They would have their biggest offensive outburst in the bottom of the sixth after a one-out error and a single by Paxson gave Wheeling two on with one out. Taylor Hradek would get the hit parade started with an RBI single that made it a 10-4 game. With two on and one out, Slomkowski would step in with yet another run scoring opportunity. She once again came through lining a two-RBI double over the right fielder's head to bringing home two and make it a 10-6 game. They couldn't push another run across, but were within striking distance heading into the final inning.

Abby Bumbico, who entered the game in the top of the fourth, twirled a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to keep momentum on the Cardinals side heading into the bottom of the seventh. Kelsi Green singled to start the inning and a one-out single put two on for the Cardinals with one out. Two batters later, Hradek reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with two outs for Slomkowski. She put the bat on the ball, but unfortunately managed just a flyout to right to end the game.

Brooke Slomkowski led the game one offensive effort, going 3-5 with a double and three RBI in the game, driving in nearly half of her team's runs. Gina Fogle, who is chasing down 100 career hits, went 2-4 on the afternoon and is now eight hits away from the milestone. Autumn Oehlstrom went 2-4 with an RBI and Taylor Hradek added a 2-5 effort with an RBI to round out Wheeling's multi-hit effort. With the game one loss, Wheeling was looking to bounce back in the second game.

Game Two: Frostburg State 8, Wheeling 6

After rallying late in the first game, Wheeling was looking to bring some of that momentum into the second game of the day. However, they were behind the eight ball from the get-go as the Bobcats scored two in the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals were held off the board in the bottom of the first, but responded in the bottom of the second after Brooke Slomkowski singled to keep her big day going. Marissa Sanchez came on to run for Slomkowski and advanced to second on a wild pitch before an Autumn Oehlstrom double put runners on second and third with one out.  Anna Florczak would bring home the Cardinals first run with a sacrifice fly that made it a 2-1 game heading into the third.

Frostburg State was back at it scoring two in the top of the third, but Wheeling kept the momentum going with a three run bottom of the third.  Natalie Stoner singled to start the inning and a Gina Fogle single and an error would move runners to second and third with nobody out. Kelsi Green would bring home the first run with an RBI groundout, and two batters later Slomkowski ripped an RBI single to score Fogle and make it 4-3.  Makie Paxson followed suit with an RBI double that tied the game at 4-3. With a brand new game on their hands, Jamie Anderson came out and looked to cool down the Frostburg State bats. They pushed a run across in the top of the fourth and would add three more in the fifth to make it an 8-4 ballgame.

Heading into the final three innings, it was still a very manageable four run game. They rallied late in game one and would once again make it a close game in game two.  It began in the sixth inning when Cassi Roman drew a one-out walk and Mia Smallwood delivered a pinch hit single to put two on and one out. Fogle would bring in a run with an RBI groundout that made it an 8-5 game. The game moved to the seventh with the score in tack after two quick outs. Makie Paxson would keep the game alive with a two-out single and Autumn Oehlstrom singled to put two on. Anna Florczak would then poke a single to center that brought home Paxson to make it an 8-6 game. However, Florczak was caught between first and second and was thrown out to end the game.

Brooke Slomkowski and Makie Paxson led the offense, each getting two hits on the day. Slomkowski went 2-4 and Paxson went 2-3 with both picking up RBI. Anna Florczak drove in two runs into the game while finishing  1-3. Gina Fogle and Kelsi Green rounded out the offense each with an RBI on the day. With one more home game on the weekend schedule, Wheeling is looking to bounce back.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Sunday, April 24th, when they battle Fairmont State with first pitch at noon.