Wheeling, W. VA. – The Wheeling University Softball team (6-24, 4-10) continued their big stretch of home games on Monday when they hosted Fairmont State. The Cardinals battled throughout the afternoon, but was unable to pick up the victory as they were swept by the Falcons. They dropped game one 11-0 in five innings and a fell short in a comeback effort in game two 7-4.

Game One: Fairmont State 11, Wheeling 0

In the first game of the day, Jenee Brodeur got the start for the Cardinals in the circle, looking for a strong start. Fairmont State would get to her for two runs in that top of the first, but the Cardinals came to the plate trailing. It was the start of a big game for the Falcons offense as they put up 11 runs in the game. They put up a run in four of the five innings, with the lone scoreless frame coming Jamie Anderson in the fourth.

Broduer would pitch the first three innings of the game, allowing five runs on four hits while walking three and striking out one. Jamie Anderson would follow her and threw two innings herself. She allowed six runs, three earned, on six hits while walking three and striking out one. Fairmont State  built up an 11-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth and Wheeling would have to fight to keep the game alive. Anna Florczak would get the first Cardinals hit of the day to start the bottom of the fifth. However, two straight Fielder's Choices left that runner at first with two outs and Sarah Florczak pinch hitting. Sarah sent a high fly ball to center but it just didn't have enough on it as the game ended with Fairmont State walking away with an 11-0 win.

Anna Florczak had the lone hit on the day for the Cardinals, finishing 1-2 across her two at-bats. The Cardinals looked to brush off the game one loss and come back stronger in game two.

Game Two: Fairmont State 7, Wheeling 4

After the mercy rule loss in game one, the Cardinals needed a strong performance in game two. They cot just that from Randi Holder, who has served as the leader of the Cardinal's pitching staff. She allowed just one base runner in the first inning and didn't allow a hit until the first batter of the third inning. The Falcons did tag Holder for the first two runs of the game in the top of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals would pick up their pitcher in the bottom half of the inning after three straight singles put runners at second and third with two outs. Jenna Hollerich would hit an RBI groundout to bring home pinch runner Candela Garcia Cabedo and it was a 2-1 game after four innings of play.

Holder would get charged with four runs in the top of the fourth and another in the top of the fifth before exiting with Fairmont State leading 7-1. Holder would go 5.1 innings allowing seven runs, five earned, on nine hits while walking a batter. Maria Clark entered with one out and a runner at first and got two big outs to end the frame and keep Wheeling in the game. After one out in the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals picked up on their pitchers momentum when Anna Florczak singled. Two batters later, Cassie Feyh hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center field, and the Cardinals cut Fairmont State's lead to 7-3. Clark came back out for the top of the seventh and added a full scoreless innings to her day, throwing 1.2 innings striking out two batters.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals made things interesting as Madison George had a pinch hit double to start the inning. Avonikah Salas would pinch run and got to third on a passed ball. MIA Smallwood would drive her home with a sacrifice d fly that made it a 7-4 game. Leah Klockowski walked and Makie Paxson singled to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Maddie Munoz would be called out for being out of the box and a Florczak groundout would end the inning as the Cardinals fell 7-4. The Cardinals fell to 4-10 in MEC play with the loss and suffered their eighth straight loss.

Cassie Feyh has her best game of the season, leading the Cardinals with a 2-3 effort with a home run and two RBI. Jenna Hollerich and Mia Smallwood each drove in runs to round out the Cardinals offense while Anna Florczak added a 2-4 day with a run scored.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Friday, April 7th when they hit the road to face Concord at 2 PM.