Glenville, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Softball team (6-30-4-14) finished off their Easter weekend road trip on Saturday as they took on Glenville State. The Cardinals battled in both games, being within three runs heading into the final inning of both, but ended up dropping both halves of their doubleheader. They took a 3-2 walk-off loss in game one and ended their day with a 7-4 loss in game two to end the day.

Game One: Glenville State 3, Wheeling 2

In the first game of the day, the Pioneers and Cardinals were locked in a pitcher's duel throughout. Jenee Brodeur got the start for the Cardinals and was tagged for a run in the bottom of the first, but settled in for the second. She started out with a soft groundout and continued to generate soft contact throughout the inning. It was a 1-2-3 inning for Brodeur, and Glenville State led 1-0 after two. In the top of the third, Brodeur would help herself with a leadoff single as she got the Cardinal' bats going. Madison George would add a single and it brought Maddie Munoz to the plate with runners at first and third with nobody out. She would drop down a bunt single scoring Brodeur and a throwing error allowed pinch runner Kelsi Green to score from first to give Wheeling a 2-1 lead.

However, the Pioneers came right back to the best racks in the bottom of the fourth and scored another run to tie the game at 2-2. Brodeur kept the Pioneers off the board for the next two innings before her day came the otjer o an end. The junior threw 6.0 innings of work allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out two. She did not walk a batter on the day and turned in her best start of the season. In the top of the seventh, the Cardinals would try to get another run on the board, but ended up going 1-2-3 in the inning. Abby Bumbico would come on to pitch the bottom of the seventh, and, after walking the leadoff hitter, Bumbico got an out on a sacrifice bunt. That would be the only out she would get as a walk-off Fielder's Choice would end the game.

Maddie Munoz would be the only Cardinal to end up with multiple hits on the day, going 2-3 with an RBI. The other hits on the day came from four different players with Jenee Brodeur, Kelsi Green, Madison George, and Makie Paxson. After dropping the first game of the day, the Cardinals looked to bounce back in game two of the day against the Pioneers.

Game Two: Glenville State 7, Wheeling 4

In their second game of the day, the Cardinals were looking for another strong start, and would get that from Randi Holder. Holder delivered a 1-2-3 in ing in the bottom of the first, which included a strikeout, and things sat at 0-0 after one inning of play. Wheeling got the first hit of game in the top of the second when Brooke Slomkowski got things started with a single to right field. Candela Garcia Cabedo would step in to pinch run, but she didn't have to go far as Anna Florczak lifted a two-run home run to give Wheeling the lead for the second game in a row at 2-0. Holder would surrender her first run of the game in the bottom half of the inning, via an RBI groundout, but was able to hold the Wheeling lead as they led 2-1 after two innings.

The Cardinals would lose that lead in the bottom of the third inning and it ended up being the final inning of work for Holder in the game. She finished 3.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one. Maria Clark came on for the fourth inning, but the Pioneers offense was back at it, adding four more runs to extend their lead to 6-2. The Cardinals would get two of those runs back in the top of the fifth after Malone Paxson walked to start the inning. Leah Klockowski replaced her on a Fielder's Choice and a Natalie Stoner double moved runners to second and third with one out. Maddie Munoz would pick up both runners with a two RBI double that got the Cardinals to within two runs. However, an insutan e run in the bottom of the fifth was enough to deal the deal as Glenville State completed the sweep with a 7-4 win.

For the second game in a row, Maddie Munoz was the only Cardinal to finish with multiple hits, going 2-4 with a double and a pair of RBI. The other two RBI on the day came courtesy of Anna Florczak as she went 1-3 with her two run home run. Brooke Slomkowski and Natalie Stoner would pick up the other two Cardinal hits on the day to round out the offense. The Cardinals drop to 4-14 in MEC play with the losses and heads into next week looking to bounce back.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Wednesday, April 12th, when they hit the road to take on West Liberty at 3 PM.