Wheeling, W. Va. – After inclement weather caused some chaos in the Wheeling University Softball team's (6-18, 4-2) schedule, the Cardinals were back on the diamond on Sunday afternoon. The offense was strong throughout the day as the team earned their second Sweep of the year, scoring a combined 19 runs in a pair of games against West Virginia State at Wheeling Park High School. The Cardinals earned a mercy rule win in game one 10-1 and followed with a come from behind 9-6 victory to complete the sweep.

Game One: Wheeling 10, West Virginia State 1

Game one saw the Cardinals send freshman Tessa Wise to the circle and she was strong. After giving up a run in the first inning, she came back with three straight zeroes to keep the Yellow Jackets at bay. She put together her only 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth and allowed just two hits over her 4.0 innings of work. She ended up going those 4.9 innings, allowing one run on two hits while walking three and striking out one. However, the Cardinals offense has it's own share of or blend early on as they couldn't breakthrough against West Virginia State pitcher Autumn Thompson. However, Wheeling put a runner in scoring position in two of the first three innings and were finally able to breakthrough in the bottom of the fourth.

The Cardinals loaded the bases with nobody out on singles by Anna Florczak and Jenna Hollerich and an error that allowed Natalie Stoner to reach on a sacrifice bunt. Leah Klockowski would drive in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly and Florczak scored on a throwing error that made it 1-1. After the next a fielder's choice allowed Candela Garcia Cabedo to reach and the bases were loaded again with two outs. That would bring up Maddie Munoz with the bases loaded and two outs looking for a big hit. She would do what she has done best this season, lining a bases clearing triple to clear the bases and give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead after four. Jenee Brodeur came on to throw a scoreless top of the fifth and the Cardinal's bats went right back to work in the top of the fifth.

The fifth inning started the same as the fifth with three straight singles from Brooke Slomkowski, Florczak, and Hollerich to load the bases with nobody out. Natalie Stoner and Klockowski would each draw bases loaded walks and got two more runs on the board to make it a 6-1 game. Gracia Cabedo would then step up with the bases loaded and still nobody out and lined a two-RBI single up the middle that scored Klockowski and Stoner to make it an 8-1 affair. After a groundout and a bunt single loaded the bases again, Madison George would end the game with a two RBI single that pushed it to a 10-1 Cardinal lead. This put in play the eight-run rule after five and the Cardinals picked up their third conference win of the day.

Maddie Munoz led the way on offense, going 2-4 with a triple and three RBI, hitting her MEC leading sixth triple of the season. Madison George finished behind her, going 3-3 with two RBI on the day as both continued their strong seasons. Candela Garcia Cabedo added two RBI of her own and Florczak finished out the day going 3-3 and scoring two runs. The Cardinals would head into the second game looking for their second Sweep of the 2023 campaign and looking to move to 4-2 in MEC play.

Game Two: Wheeling 9, West Virginia State 6

The second game of the day also saw the Cardinals fall behind early, but by a bigger margin. The Yellow Jackets would put five runs on the board in the top of the first and put the Cardinals down 5-0. Jamie Anderson got the start and was forced to leave after getting just two outs in the game. She was charged with five runs, four earned, on four hits while walking two. Randi Holder would then come on in relief and got the final out to stop the early scoring. The Cardinals were held off the board in the bottom of the first, Holder came back with a 1-2-3 top of the second and set her team up for success as they got on the board in the bottom of the second. Anna Florczak would continue her hot day with a double to start the inning and a Jenna Hollerich single put runners at first and third with nobody out.


Natalie Stoner drive in the first Cardinal run of the day with an RBI double that scored Florczak and made it a 5-1 game. After a groundout, Candela Garcia Cabedo added another run on an RBI single that made it a 5-2 game. Makie Paxson would then groundout to move runners to second and third and they were both picked up when Maddie Munoz reached on an error that scored a pair of runs. The Cardinals were able to close the gap and make it a 5-4 game. The teams would trade runs in the third with West Virginia State making it 6-4 in the top half and Anna Florczak added an RBI single that scored Avonikah Salas and once again made it a one-run game at 6-5 West Virginia State after three innings.

Holder would go on to retire nine straight batters from the fourth through the sixth innings as the Cardinal's offense kept going. Maddie Munoz walked to start the bottom of the fourth inning, but a pair of ours left her at second with two outs. The Cardinals would tie the game when Anna Florczak drove in her second run of the day with a two-out RBI single that made it a 6-6 game after four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Natalie Stoner gave the Cardinals their first lead of the day with a solo home run that made it a 7-6 game. Cabedo would reach on an error and advanced to second before stealing third and generating a run of her own. She scored on an error by the catcher and the Cardinals extended their lead to 8-6 after five innings of play.

The bottom of the sixth inning once again saw the Cardinals take advantage of a Yellow Jacket error as Madison George reached on an error and got to second base. Kelsi Green would pinch run and stole third before Brooke Slomkowski drew a walk to put runners on first and third with nobody out. Abby Bumbico would pinch run and stole second and put two runners in scoring position. A flyout would end up being the first out of the inning and Jenna Hollerich stepped in with two in scoring position. She ended up bringing both runners home with a two RBI single that made it a 9-6 Wheeling lead. The Yellow Jackets would get a runner to second with two outs, but Holder was able to keep them off the board and the Cardinals would hold on to win the game 9-6.

Anna Florczak led the Cardinal's on the day, going 3-4 with a double and two RBI to finish the day going 6-7 between the two games. Natalie Stoner would hit the first home run of the season for the Cardinals, and finished 2-4 with two RBI in the game. Jenna Hollerich and Candela Garcia Cabedo each added RBI on the day to finish the offense. Randi Holder came on in relief and continued her success going 6.1 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking a batter.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Monday, March 27th, when they host the University of Charleston at 2 PM.