Wheeling, W. Va. - After playing their home opener a week and a half ago at the Highlands Sports Complex, the Wheeling University Softball team (1-13, 0-0) now gets set to open the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex for the 2023 season. They will host Ohio Dominican on Wednesday in their final non-conference contest before Mountain East Conference (MEC) play in doubleheader action, with first pitch scheduled for 2 PM. The Cardinals played well on their home field last season, going a combined 4-9 across 13 games and look for similar success this season.
The Cardinals are coming off their annual trip to The Spring Games down in Winter Haven, Florida, where the team combined to go 1-7 across their eight-game trip. Despite the record, the Cardinals got the chance to see some tough non-conference opponents that will prepare them for the rigors that the MEC presents. They got their first win of the season during the trip when they beat Holy Family University in the opener and played tough throughout the week. They averaged almost three runs per game during the eight-game stretch and had some strong pitching performances throughout the week as they continue to improve on the diamond.
Leading the offense was the Cardinal's catching core in junior Maddie Munoz and freshman Madison George. The two split time behind the plate and as the designated player during the week, with George leading the tandem. She went 9-15 (.600) across the eight games with two doubles and five RBI, leading the Cardinals in RBI throughout the week. Her biggest game would come in the first game of the final day, when she went a perfect 4-4 with four singles and two RBI on the day. Munoz hit .259 during the trip, but led the Cardinals with three extra base hits, with all three of those hits being triples. Munoz pulled into a tie for the MEC lead in triples with the effort and is second on the team with a .310 batting average.
In the circle, the Cardinals turned to their two leaders in junior Jamie Anderson and Randi Holder, and each delivered a big showing. In the Cardinal's lone win of the week, Anderson would toss a complete game effort and, after a shaky start shut down Holy Family. She allowed four runs in the first inning before coming back to put up five straight zeroes to help her team secure the victory. Overall, Anderson threw 13.2 innings during the week allowing 16 runs, 12 earned, on 22 hits while walking three and striking out seven. Similarly, Holder started her week strong against Kentucky Wesleyan, allowing just one run over her first 6.0 innings. In the end, she would be charged with another run in the top of the seventh before the Cardinals fell 4-0. She pitched to a 6.75 ERA across four appearances and did not allow more than three earned runs in any outing.
Wednesday will be the Cardinal's final non-conference doubleheader before they kick-off conference play and they look to get momentum on their side. The Cardinals were 4-9 in 13 home games last season compared to 5-15 when they hit the road. The Cardinals started their home schedule with a pair of losses to UINDY but are back on their true home field at the I-470 Complex. Wheeling was picked to finish 5th in the MEC North Division this season and is looking to rise above their standing and try to capture one of the top four spots in the division to claim a playoff spot.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Panthers are meeting for the third time in program history, with Ohio Dominican leading the all-time series at 3-0. However, Wednesday will mark the first meeting in Wheeling between the two teams, with the other three games coming either away or at neutral sites. Wheeling has scored a combined three runs over the first three meetings between the two teams and will look to get the offense going this time around.
Last season, the two teams met during their tournament in Owensboro, Kentucky in a game that the Cardinals would drop 3-0. Former Cardinal Taylor Hradek, Former Cardinal Alisa Shelt, and Cassie Feyh led the offense each picking up a hit on the day. Former Cardinal Aubrie Lafferty led the pitching staff, throwing 5.0 scoreless innings in relief while allowing just one hit.
The Details
First pitch for Wednesday's doubleheader is scheduled for 2 PM at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex located just off the Elm Grove exit on I-70. You can watch the action live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
