Phillipi, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Softball team wrapped up their 2022 season on Saturday when they hit the road to Phillipi, WV. They took on Alderson Broaddus to wrap up the year and ended up falling in both halves of the doubleheader. After dropping game one 7-2, they came back and fell in game two 8-5 as they head towards the off-season looking to continue to grow on and off the field.

Game One: Alderson Broaddus 7, Wheeling 2

After riding the momentum of their offense on Friday, the Cardinals got locked into a pitchers duel early in game two. Freshman Randi Holder got the start and went pitch for pitch with Alderson Broaddus over the first three innings. She allowed just one base runner in both the first and second innings and retired the side 1-2-3 in the third to start the game. However, the Cardinals were also silenced during that time and as the game headed into the fourth it was still deadlocked at 0-0. 

The tie was broken in the bottom of the fourth as the Battlers put up a pair of runs and took a 2-0 lead. They added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth and what was once a pitcher's duel turned into a big lead for the Battlers. Holder would eventually take the loss, but pitched a lot better than the stat line suggests. She went 5.0 innings allowing six runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out three in the game. Madison Macy came on in relief for the final inning and allowed another run on one hit while walking a batter to end the day in the circle.

With the Cardinals down 6-0, they would find their way on the board in the top of the sixth as Brooke Slomkowski singled to lead off the inning. Autumn Oehlstrom would follow with a single and her and Kelsi Green, who ran for Slomkowski, each stole a base to put runners at second and third with nobody out. After the next two batters struck out it looked like the rally would end there, but Gina Fogle came through with an RBI single to score Green and make it a 6-1 game. Alisa Shelt took advantage of a Battler error and reached base to allow Oehlstrom to score and make it a 6-2 game. The Battlers added a final run in the seventh that brought the game to its final score of 7-2.

Brooke Slomkowski and Natalie Stoner led the way for the Cardinals as they went 2-4 and 2-3 respectively. Gina Fogle drove in her team's only RBI, going 1-3, while Taylor Hradek and Makie Paxson each picked up hits on the day. Wheeling looked to end their season on a high note as they headed into game two of their doubleheader.

Game Two: Alderson Broaddus 8, Wheeling 5

After falling behind early in game one, it was the Cardinals who put the Battlers in a hole early in game two. After the leadoff batter was retired, Natalie Stoner singled before a Brooke Slomkowski walk and a Taylor Hradek single loaded the bases with one out. After the second out, Jenee Brodeur singled to drive in the first run of the game to make it a 1-0 Wheeling advantage. Autumn Oehlstrom would follow and really got the ball rolling when she lifted a grand slam to  break the game open and give Wheeling a 5-0 lead.  It was tied for the most runs scored in a single half inning by the team this season as they found themselves in a good position early on.

However, the Battlers came right back in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs and cutting Wheeling's lead to 5-4.  Both teams were held off the board in the second inning as starting pitcher Aubrie Lafferty settled down and tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the second. As the game moved into the third, Alderson Broaddus was right back at it as they scored  three runs in the third and one in the fourth to build an 8-5 advantage. Lafferty's day was done in the third as she lasted 2.1 innings of work allowing seven runs, four earned on six hits to end her season. She was relieved by junior Madison Macy, who pitched the game's final 3.2 innings allowing one run on six hits while walking one. It was a strong end to the season for Macy as she wrapped up her Wheeling career.

Over the final six innings of the game, Wheeling was unable to add on, but continued to fight throughout the afternoon. In the top of the seventh, the Cardinals trailer by three and were able to get the tying run to the plate. Autumn Oehlstrom singled to start the inning and was replaced by Anna Florczak two batters later on a fielder's choice.  After some changes in the field for the Battlers, Natalie Stoner came through with a two-out single that brought Cassi Roman to the plate as the tying run. She would put the ball in play, but unfortunately it was right at an infielder to end the inning. The Cardinals fell 8-5 and ended their season at 14-33 and 6-25 in conference play.

 Autumn Oehlstrom finished her sophomore season on a high note as he went a team-best 2-3 with a home run and four RBI. She finished the season batting a career-best .388 as she heads into the off-season.  Jenee Brodeur added a 1-2 day with a walk and an RBI while Taylor Hradek went 2-3.  Alisa Shelt and Natalie Stoner each picked up hits to round out the day.

The Wheeling University Softball team now heads into the off-season as they look to grow on and off the field.