Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Softball team (7-35, 5-19) played their second to last home game of the season on Saturday when they hosted West Virginia Wesleyan at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex. The team battled throughout the day, but in the end they were swept by the Bobcats to move to 5-19 in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play. They fell 5-0 on game one before falling 8-0 in a five-inning mercy rule game in game two.

Game One: West Virginia Wesleyan 5, Wheeling 0

Freshman Maria Clark would get the ball for the Cardinals in game one and she was the story of the game in the circle. The freshman worked her way around a pair of two out singles in the first before being charged with her first run of the day in the top of the second. The Bobcats would take a 1-0 lead, but it would remain there for the next two innings as Clark hit her roll. She went pitch for pitch with West Virginia Wesleyan starter Hannah Hudson, retiring nine batters in a row from the top of the second to the top of the fifth inning. That would be broken up by a one out double and a single moved runners to second and third. A fielder's choice would get the out at home, but a three run home run opened things up as West Virginia Wesleyan took a 4-0 lead.

That was more than enough run support for West Virginia Wesleyan's Hudson, who after allowing a leadoff single in the top of the first retired 20 of the next 22 batters to complete the victory. Meabwhile, Clark's day came to an end after that fifth inning as she allowed four runs, seven earned, while striking out two batters. Jenee Brodeur would come in for the final two innings of work and was solid allowing just one run on one hit while walking one and striking out one. It was the fourth straight outing where Brodeur has allowed three earned runs or less as she continues her success in the circle. The Cardinals would have one more shot in the bottom of the seventh, but they ended the day going 1-2-3 and falling 5-0.

The lone Cardinals hitter to pick up a hit on the day was Maddie Munoz, who finished 1-3 on the day. The other Cardinal to reach was Anna Florczak, ago reached base twice on a walk and a fielder's choice. The Cardinals would look to get more offense going in game two and earn a split of the series.

Game Two: West Virginia Wesleyan 8, Wheeling 0

After a great start in game one, sophomore Randi Holder would get the call for the Cardinals in game two looking to duplicate her teammates effort. She had a strong first inning, retiring the Bobcats 1-2-3 before getting her team back to the bat racks. Wheeling would also go 1-2-3 in their half of the inning and after one it was 0-0. The Bobcats got their first runs of the game in the top of the second as they put up a three-spot to take a 3-0 lead. The Cardinals threatened in their half, with Cassie Feyh and Brooke Slomkowski each singling to start the inning. However, nothing came of it and two and three spots by the Bobcats over the next two innings made it an 8-0 game after four innings. Holder's day came to an end in the top of the third, allowing five runs on six hits and the other three runs were charged to Maria Clark, who threw 1.2 in innings allowing three runs, two earned, on one hit while walking two batters.

The bright spot for the pitching staff was the work of Jamie Anderson, who took over for Clark. Anderson threw 1.1 innings of work and retired all four batters she faced, including a 1-2-3 top of the fifth that brought Wheeling back to the plate in the bottom of the fifth looking to keep the game alive. Natalie Stoner would give the Cardinals life in the bottom of the inning when she reached on an error as the run that could keep the game alive. Sarah Florczak would then punch hit and struck out before a pair of groundouts by Candela Garcia Cabedo and Maddie Munoz would end the game. The Cardinals dropped to 5-19 in MEC play with two weeks left in the regular season.

Four different Cardinals picked up hits on the day, but the Cardinals were unable to push a run across. Brooke Slomkowski led the war going 1-1, while Cassie Feyh, Maddie Munoz, and Candela Garcia Cabedo each picking up hits.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Saturday, April 22nd, when they head to Frostburg State at 1 PM.