Wheeling, W. Va. - The Wheeling University Softball team (9-18, 2-10) are used to heading on the road throughout the 2022 season. Of their first 27 games of the season, 23 of those have been played away from the J.B. Chambers I-470 complex. They will continue that string of road games on Thursday as they hit the road to continue their long-standing rivalry with the West Liberty Hilltoppers in doubleheader action at 3 & 5 PM.
In their most recent doubleheader, Wheeling took on Frostburg State as the offense was battling from behind throughout the day. In game one, the first six innings saw the Bobcats put up seven runs and hold a 7-1 lead over the Cardinals. However, the team was able to battle back, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning before eventually falling 7-4. In game two of the doubleheader, The Bobcats offense continued to come out swinging, putting up 12 runs, and Wheeling ended up falling by the final score of 12-1 in five innings.
Leading the way for the Cardinals against Frostburg State were a pair of home run hitters that got the team on the board. The first was sophomore Makie Paxson, who hit her first collegiate home run in the first game of the doubleheader. The long ball came in the top of the seventh when she led off the inning with a solo shot to left that made it a 7-2 game. Paxson finished 1-2 with that home run and RBI and began the three-run rally in the top of the seventh that took it from a blowout game to a close contest.
In game two, the Cardinals saw success from Mia Smallwood, who got the start and lifted her first home run of the season in the fourth inning. Unfortunately, that was their only run of the game as they got eight-run ruled and fell 12-1. It was a big showing for Smallwood, who went 1-2 with an RBI and the homerun in the game, as she continues her hot stretch as of late. Over her last three games, Smallwood has gone 3-5 with a homerun, one RBI, and two runs scored. She missed some time due to an injury at the beginning of the year but has bounced back nicely since returning as she made her mark on the team.
With four weekends remaining in the regular season, things are heating up in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division. Currently, Wheeling sits tied for fifth in the North Division, but with doubleheaders remaining against each of their north division opponents, a lot can happen between now and the end of the season. Many of those contests will come at home, giving Wheeling the upper hand being at their home park. They look to continue to gel as a team and come together as the season progresses.
The Matchup
The Wheeling rivalry heads into its 35th all-time matchup on Thursday as Wheeling and West Liberty meet on top of the hill. In the all-time series, Wheeling has the upper hand, going 19-15 against the Hilltoppers, but they have not beaten West Liberty since the 2018 season. The Cardinals average about 3.9 runs per game against West Liberty and are actually better away from J.B. Chambers with a record of 10-8 atop the hill.
Last season, the two teams met in two separate doubleheaders with West Liberty taking all four of the games. Wheeling nearly got the win in their most recent matchup, falling 4-3 as the Hilltoppers scored a walk-off win. Cassi Roman was the offensive leader for the Cardinals, going 1-2 with two RBI in the game, and Aubrie Lafferty led on the mound, going 6.1 innings allowing four runs, walking two, and striking out three.
The Details
First pitch for game one of Thursday's doubleheader is scheduled for 3 PM at West Liberty University. You can watch live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
