Wheeling, W. Va. – With rain set to roll through the area this weekend, the Wheeling University Softball team's (4-16, 2-0) Mountain East Conference (MEC) opener came a little earlier than expected. The Cardinals hosted Alderson Broaddus on Thursday afternoon and came away with their first doubleheader sweep of the year. The Cardinals won game one 7-3 and followed it up with a strong pitching performance in game 2 to complete the sweep with a 3-0 win.

Game One: Wheeling 7, Alderson Broaddus 3

The Cardinals opened the day with the same offensive success that they ended Wednesday's doubleheader with as they took the lead early. Alderson Broaddus would push across a run in the top of the first, but the Cardinals got going right away in the bottom half when Makie Paxson started things out with a single. Candela Garcia Cabedo followed with a single and both runners advanced in the throw to move runners to second and third with nobody out. Freshman Madison George stepped up and delivered, lining a two-RBI single to left that made it a 2-1 Cardinal's advantage. Maria Clark responded with a 1-2-3 top of the second and put together a strong outing for her team.

She had another 1-2-3 inning in the third before being tagged for two more runs in the fourth. However, she would leave the game with the lead and a chance to pick up her first collegiate win. She ended up going 4.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one. The Cardinals picked her up a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by George, and when she left the field it was a 3-3 game. The offense once again banned together in the bottom of the fourth and gave their freshman a chance to win the game. Clark would help herself with a leadoff single but the pinch runner would be erased on a Fielder's choice by Natalie Stoner. Stoner stole second and was caught stealing to bring up two outs.

Makie Paxson would draw a big two-out walk and th next two batters reached to load the bases. Anna Florczak would work the count to 3-2 before drawing the bases loaded walk to make it a 4-3 Wheeling lead. With the lead back in hand, the Cardinals called on Abby Bumbico to close things out. She did just that as she allowed just one hit over the final three innings and earned her first save of the season. She ended up throwing 3.0 innings and allowing just one hit while walking one and striking out two. It was just what the Cardinals needed in the circle and the offense would do it's job, adding some much needed insurance over their final two at-bats.

In the bottom of the fifth, Maddie Munoz got things started with her MEC-leading fourth triple of the season to start things off. She would come home on a Kelsi Green sacrifice bunt and the Cardinals pushed their lead to 5-3. In the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals were on the board again as Cabedo reached on a one-out walk before George and Florczak both singled to load the bases. After a strikeout registered the second out of the inning, Jenna Hollerich would add a two-RBI single to make it a 7-3 Wheeling lead. They would go on to win by that same score as they started MEC play 1-0.

Madison George led the way, going 3-4 with three RBI on the day, setting a new career-high in RBI. Jenna Hollerich was the other multi-RBI day, going 1-4 with two RBI. Anna Florczak and Kelsi Green each added RBI on the day. The Cardinals would head into game two looking for their first doubleheader sweep of the season as they moved to game two.

Game Two: Wheeling 3, Alderson Broaddus 0

The second game of the day saw sophomore Randi Holder take the circle and delivered her best start of the season. She allowed just one hit in both the first and second innings and put together a 1-2-3 inning in the third as the game was tied at 0-0 after two and a half. Leah Klockowski and Cabedo hit back to back singles to start the bottom of the third and Cabedo stole second to put runners in scoring position. Two batters Munoz stepped in and lifted a sacrifice fly to score Klockowski and make it a 1-0 Wheeling advantage. Madison George then stepped in and kept her bat hot as she drove in the second run of the inning with an RBI single and the Cardinals led 2-0 after three innings of play.
The final run of the game came across in the bottom of the fourth after Anna Florczak drew a walk to start the inning.

Avonikah Salas would pinch run and moved to second on a Hollerich groundout. Natalie Stoner then reached on an error and Salas scampered home to make it a 3-0 game. That was more than enough for Holder as she held off the Battlers in the sixth and moved into the seventh innings with their 3-0 lead in tact. Holder came back out to finish things off and got the first two outs in two pitches. She would issue a two-out walk to Lakyn Blackburn and a fly out would end the game. It was Holder's first career complete game shutout. It was also Holder's first win of the season as she finished the game allowing four hits while walking three and striking out two.

Maddie Munoz led the way going 1-2 with an RBI on the day while Madison George added a 1-3 day with an RBI of her own. While they didn't drive any runs in, Leah Klockowski and Candela Garcia Cabedo each finished 2-3 with a run scored. The final Cardinal hit came from Brooke Slomkowski, who went 1-3. The Cardinals now sit 2-0 in MEC play and look to keep their momentum going in conference play.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Tuesday, March 21st, when they hit the road to face Notre Dame College at noon.