Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Winter Haven, FL. – The Wheeling University Softball team (1-9, 0-0) began their annual spring trip in Winter Haven, Florida on Monday with a pair of contests. They ended up splitting the first day of competition as they picked up their first win of the 2023 season. The win came in the first game of the day against Holy Family University, where the Cardinals won 9-4, followed by a game two loss to Kentucky Wesleyan 4-0.

Game One: Wheeling 9, Holy Family 4

In their first game of the day, the Cardinals took on Holy Family University and had to play from behind early. The Tigers would put up a four spot on the Cardinals in the bottom of the first and Wheeling was trailing 4-0 after one. However, the Cardinals would come roaring back to take the lead in the top of the second after Leah Klockowski drew a walk to start the inning. Jenna Hollerich would single before Klockowski was picked off for the first out of the inning. However, back-to-back walks loaded the bases with one out for Natalie Stoner. Stoner would draw a walk to make it a 4-1 game and Makie Paxson came through with a two RBI single to make it 4-3. Paxson then stole second and a Kelsi Green walk brought Maddie Muñoz to the plate. Munoz would come through with a bases clearing triple and the Cardinals would lead 6-4 after two innings. 

Jamie Anderson was in the circle for the Cardinals and, after giving up four runs in the bottom of the first, she settled down the rest of the night. She allowed just one hit over the next four innings and would finish allowing just those four runs. Anderson Anderson finished the day throwing 7.0 innings allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits while walking two and striking out four. Anderson has now allowed three earned runs or less in four of her five outings this season and lowers her ERA to 4.32 on the season. With Anderson locked in, the Cardinals had a chance to add on the rest of the way, and they would get back on the board with some much needed insurance in the top of the sixth inning.

Makie Paxson would begin the inning by reaching on an error and two batters later Anna Florczak would reach on an error to put two on and two out. Leah Klockowski would then single to load the bases with two outs. Hollerich would then step to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. She would come through with her biggest hit of the year, a three RBI double that gave Wheeling a 9-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Cardinals would hold on to win their first game of the year as they won 9-4. Jenna Hollerich would lead the way, going 2-4 with three RBI while Maddie Muñoz also finished with three RBI, going 1-3 at the plate. Makie Paxson added a two RBI day while Natalie Stoner added the final RBI of the day. Wheeling headed into game two looking for their first sweep of 2023.

Game Two: Kentucky Wesleyan 4, Wheeling 0

Game Two saw the Cardinals face off with Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) opponent Kentucky Wesleyan in what would be a defensive game. The Cardinals would send sophomore Randi Holder to the circle for her first start of the 2023 season. Holder was touched up for a run in the top of the first, but was able to work out of trouble. It would be her best outing of the season through the first six innings, with that lone run being the only blemish on Holder's day. She struck out five batters over six innings of work and kept it a 1-0 game. Meanwhile, the Cardinals ran into a strong pitching performance and had just three hits through seven innings of work.

The Cardinals threatened right away in the first when Makie Paxson doubled to leadoff the inning, but was stranded their. That was the lone extra base hit for the Cardinals, with Maddie Muñoz and Jenna Hollerich picking up the other two hits on the day. It was still 1-0 heading into the top of the seventh inning and Holder came back to try and finish it out. However, it wasn't meant to be as the first four batters of the inning reached making a bases loaded and nobody out situation. They would push across three runs in the inning and pushed their lead to 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Cardinals would end up going 1-2-3 in the inning and the Cardinals fell 4-0.
Holder would end up going 6.0 innings in the game, allowing four runs, while striking out five batters. Makie Paxson, Maddie Muñoz, and Jenna Hollerich each came through with hits on the day.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on day two of The Spring Games when they take on Concordia St. Paul at 9 AM, followed by Clarion at 4:30 PM.