Wheeling, W. Va. - So far, the Wheeling University Softball team (0-8, 0-0) has been tasked with a tough non-conference schedule that has seen them take on two nationally ranked opponents. Now, they head to Winterville, Florida for their annual Florida trip as they compete in The Spring Games from March 6th through March 10th. They will play eight games across that five-game stretch and are looking to build off last year's successful trip.
Last time out, it was the Cardinals taking on the #11 team in the county in the University of Indianapolis at the Highlands Sports Complex. It would prove a challenging matchup for the Cardinals, as they dropped both halves of the doubleheader. They got strong pitching early in game one and held the Greyhounds off the board for the first three innings of the game, but the Greyhounds would tack on 13 runs to pick up a 13-0 win in game one. Game two saw the Cardinals pitch slightly better, but in the end, it wasn't enough as they fell 9-0. The Cardinals combined for five hits on the day and look to be more consistent on both sides as they head down to Florida.
While the Cardinals gave up 22 combined runs, they did get another solid pitching performance from freshman Tessa Wise. She made her third appearance of the season in game one and threw 3.0 innings of work allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits while waking six and striking out seven. She held the Greyhounds at bay over the first two innings, allowing just one run on a bases loaded walk during that time. Wise has pitched to a 2.17 ERA over her first three appearances, spanning 10.1 innings of work, and has allowed three earned runs or less in every outing. Wise looks to continue her success down in Florida as the Cardinals look to get in the win column.
On the offensive side, the Cardinals saw a big showing in game one from junior Maddie Munoz, who had the lone multi-hit game going 2-2 in game one. She combined to go 2-3 across the two games, reaching base on two singles. Munoz raised her average to .400 with the effort, and now leads the Cardinals in batting average this season. Makie Paxson continued her strong start to 2023, adding two more hits and upping her average to .333 on the season. Paxson enters the spring games with a five-game hitting streak in tack and looks to be a force at the top of the Cardinals lineup.
The 2022 Spring Games saw the Cardinals put together one of their best runs of the tournament in recent years. They opened last year's tournament, winning their first two games and taking three of their first five games for the trip. They would end up winning three games on the trip and came back to Wheeling with a 7-8 record as they prepared for MEC play. It would take a herculean effort to come back with an identical record this season, but the Cardinals will be once again facing some tough regional competition that will have them ready for the conference schedule when they return.
The Matchups
Holy Family University: The Cardinals and Tigers are meeting up for the fourth time in program history, with Wheeling leading the all-time matchup with a record of 2-1. All three of the previous meetings have come in Florida, and the Cardinals are averaging four runs per game in those meetings. They last met on March 6th, 2020, in a game that Holy Family would win 6-3. Former Cardinals Heather Pinney and Autumn Oehlstrom led the way with Pinney going 2-3 and Oehlstrom adding a 2-4 day.
Kentucky Wesleyan: The Cardinals and Kentucky Wesleyan are meeting for the third time in program history on Monday, with Kentucky Wesleyan holding the series lead at 2-0. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2017 season, and each of the prior meetings came in back-to-back seasons in Clearmont, Florida. Their last meeting was on March 2nd, 2017, and saw Kentucky Wesleyan win 4-1. Former Cardinal Erin Unterbbrink took the mound and allowed four runs in a complete game effort to lead the way.
Concordia University-St. Paul: The Cardinals and Lions will be meeting for the fourth time in program history on Tuesday in the first game of the day. It has been ten years since these two teams last met, with that previous meeting coming in 2013 in Kissimmee, Florida. Wheeling is averaging 1.67 runs per game in those meetings and looks for their first win in program history against the Lions. They last met on March 3rd, 2013, in a game that Concordia St. Paul won 9-1. Former Cardinal Lorian Tharp led the offense that day, going 2-3 in the losing effort.
Clarion: The Cardinals and Golden Eagles will be meeting for the first time in program history when they meet in the second game on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles are off to a 4-5 start to the season, including a 2-2 record against MEC opponents Fairmont State, West Virginia State, West Virginia Wesleyan, and Glenville State. They are led on offense by Carrissa Giordano, who is hitting .429 with six RBI, and by Angelina Pepe in the circle, who is pitching to a 2.03 ERA over 10.1 innings of work.
The College of St. Rose: The Cardinals and the College of St. Rose are meeting for the second time in program history, with the College of St. Rose winning the first matchup. Their only meeting came two years ago in Clearmont, Florida, as the Cardinals scored four runs in what was an 8-4 loss on March 5th, 2019. Former Cardinals Kelsey Barron and Molly Walsh led the way in that game with two hits each, going an identical 2-4.
Trevecca Nazarene University: The Cardinals and Trojans will be meeting for the first time in program history when they come together on Thursday. The Trojans enter the week having played 12 games, posting a 5-7 record across those 12 games. As a team, the Trojans are batting .297 and are reaching base at a .367 clip this season. The Cardinals look to open the all-time series with a win as they meet in Winterville, Florida.
Lock Haven: The Cardinals and Eagles will be meeting for the first time in program history on Friday in the first game of the day. Lock Haven has played in six games this season and enter the week with a record of 3-3. Delaney Good leads the Eagles offense with a .500 average and four RBI while Madison Waltman leads the pitching staff with a 1.37 ERA over 15.1 innings of work.
Seton Hill: The Cardinals and Griffins will meet for the 12th time in program history to wrap up the week on Friday and the third time during the 2023 season. Wheeling is 3-8 against their PSAC rivals and are looking to break a four-game losing streak against the Griffins. In their first meeting of the year, Seton Hill would sweep a doubleheader back on February 14th by scores of 12-3 and 7-0. Jamie Anderson took the circle for the Cardinals that day, allowing nine runs, but just one earned, on the afternoon as the Cardinals look to turn around their fortune.
The Details
All eight games during the Spring Games week will be played in Winterville, Florida spread between two different facilities. Live coverage of select games will be available and a full recap of the day's events will be available each day at wucardinals.com and across our social media channels.
