Wheeling, W. Va. – After playing so many road games early in the season, the Wheeling University Softball team (12-31, 5-23) wrapped up their home schedule on a chilly Wednesday afternoon. The bats came to play, but it wasn't enough as Wheeling dropped both halves of the doubleheader and fell to 5-23 in conference play. They dropped game one 14-6 before falling 9-4 in game two despite loading the bases in the top of the seventh.

Game One: West Liberty 14, Wheeling 6

After Wheeling got the win in the first doubleheader of the year between these two teams, the Hilltoppers came out swinging early as they looked for revenge. The Hilltoppers put up a quick three spot in the first inning and followed that with two more runs in the second to give them a 5-0 advantage. However, the kill shot came in the top of the third when West Liberty put up a six-spot to make it 11-0. Another run in the top of the fourth made it a 12-0 Hilltopper lead and the Cardinals were in danger of getting run-ruled.

Wheeling would get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning after Taylor Hradek broke up the no-hitter with a lead-off single. After two quick outs, Cassi Roman would pick up the runner with an RBI double to the left-centerfield gap to make it a 12-1 game. A few batters later, Brooke Slomkowski came to the plate with a runner on and two outs, and launched a two-run shot over the right-center field wall to make it a 12-3 game. Even with the home run, the Cardinals still had to put up at least two runs in the fifth to keep the game alive. Wheeling was able to hold off the Hilltoppers in the top of the fifth and the score remained 12-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

 The Cardinals still needed to put up atleast two runs to keep the game alive and the inning started in their favor as the first three batters reached to load the bases with one out. Autumn Oehlstrom stepped in and drove in the first two runs on an RBI single that made it a 12-5 game and kept Wheeling alive in the game. The Cardinals would manufacture their next run as Oehlstrom took off for second and Hradek swiped home to make it a 12-6 game. The Cardinals now had new life and looked to use it to their advantage over the final two innings.

The Hilltoppers would respond with a run in the top of the sixth to make it 13-6, and added one more in the seventh to bring the game back to an eight run Cardinal deficit, but they continued to battle in the bottom of the seventh. After the first two batters were retired, Alisa Shelt fouled off some tough pitches and worked her way on with a two-out walk. Cassi Roman would single to give the Cardinals a second base runner, but that is all they would get as the inning ended and West Liberty took home the 14-6 game one win.

Brooke Slomkowski led the offense for Wheeling in game one, going 2-3 with a home run and two RBI, while Autumn Oehlstrom added a 1-4 day with two RBI on the day. Cassi Roman was the other Cardinal with a multi-hit game, finishing 2-4 with an RBI in the loss, while Gina Fogle and Taylor Hradek each added hits in the game. Wheeling would look for the split in game two like they did in the first meeting of the year.

Game Two: West Liberty 9, Wheeling 4

After battling to keep the game alive in game one, the Cardinals were looking to come out swinging in game two. However, they were forced to play from behind again as the Hilltoppers scored a run in the first and brought Wheeling to the plate down 1-0. Wheeling answered in the bottom half of the seventh when Gina Fogle started things by reaching on an error. After two outs, Fogle had moved to scoring position and Brooke Slomkowski picked her up with a single that tied the game at 1-1. The inning would end there, but it was the first time all night that the Cardinals and Hilltoppers we're tied after the first inning of the game all day. West Liberty responded in the third with three runs and it was back to the drawing board for Wheeling.

They would get their answer back in the bottom of the fifth after Cassi Roman singled and Randi Holder reached on an error that allowed Roman to score and make it a 4-2 Hilltopper advantage. That brought up Anna Florczak with a runner in scoring position and she promptly cleared the bases with a two-run home run that tied the game at 4-4. For Florczak, it was her third home run of the season as she shifted the momentum back to Wheeling. However, two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh put Wheeling behind again 9-4. Randi Holder, who came on to relieve Jamie Anderson in the third, was solid through her relief outing, going 4.2 innings while allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits while walking three and striking out two.

The Cardinals went into the bottom of the seventh trailing 9-4 and were looking for a way to rally. After two quick outs, the Cardinals would get something started when Makie Paxson drew a two-out walk. Taylor Hradek would then reach on an error and Brooke Slomkowski walked to load the bases with two outs. However, the rally would stop their as Autumn Oehlstrom grounded out to end the inning. The Cardinals dropped the doibeheader and finished their season 1-3 against their division rivals. With two more doubleheaders ahead of them, they look to finish on a high note as they head into the off-season.

 Anna Florczak led the Cardinals going 1-3 with a home run and two RBI, while Slomkowski added a 3-3 day with a walk and an RBI. Cassi Roman added a multi-hit performance, going 2-4, and Gina Fogle went 1-4 and is now just three hits away for 100 in her collegiate career.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Friday, April 29th, when they hit the road to face Notre Dame College at 3 PM.