Game 1: Hillsdale 6, Wheeling 4
 

The Cardinals opened the 2024 season with their leader from last year's pitching staff, junior Randi Holder. She delivered a 1-2-3 inning to start things off and her offense rewarded her in the bottom of the inning. Maddie Munoz would reach on an error to start the inning and with two outs that runner remained on first. Madison Kay would single to move runners to first and third and Anna Florczak would single home the runner with a line drive that went right over the third baseman's glove to give the Cardinals a 1-0 advantage. Holder would retire her fourth straight batter to start the second, but a solo home run from Hillsdale's Olaveson would tie the game at 1-1. That is where the score would remain until the top of the fourth, when Hillsdale took their first lead at 2-1.
 

Wheeling would look to respond in the bottom of the inning and had their first three batters reach as Jenna Hollerich, Kelsi Green, and Natalie Stoner each singles to load the bases with nobody out. After a pop-out, Munoz would tie the game with an RBI groundout that made it a 2-2 game. Grace Mummery would then step up with runners at second and third and two outs and came through with a big two RBI single that gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the day at 4-2. However, in the top of the fifth, Hillsdale lifted a two-run home run and a solo shot that flipped the script and gave Hillsdale a 6-4 lead. Holder would finish her day throwing 4.0 Innings allowing six runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two. Maria Clark would come in to throw the final 2.0 innings of shutout ball, but Wheeling would fall by that 6-4 score.
 

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Grace Mummery, who only had one hit, but it ended up being the biggest of the game. She finished 1-4 with that 2-RBI Single that gave the Cardinals the lead in the bottom of the 4th. Anna Florczak (1-3) and Maddie Munoz (0-3) would drive in the other runs on the day, while Jenna Hollerich led the team with a three-hit day as she finished 3-3 with a run scored. The offense was rolling for the Cardinals, and they headed into game two looking to split the day.
 

Game Two: Wheeling 9, Hillsdale 2
 

After falling in game one, the Cardinals looked to get out to a hot start in game two. After Hillsdale scored a run in the top of the first, the Cardinals had their first two batters retired in the bottom half as they were down 1-0. Cassie Feyh would come through with a two-out single, and Madison Kay hit her first collegiate home run to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. Jenna Hollerich would follow that with a single and a Katie Sare walk and Anna Florzcak would load the bases with two outs. Natalie Stoner would knock on the third run of the inning with an RBI single and after one inning, the Cardinals were staked to a 3-1 lead. After giving up the lone run in the top of the first, starting pitcher Tessa Wise settled in in the circle, throwing up four consecutive zeros.
 

The Cardinals would build their lead even further in the second after back-to-back singles from Maddie Munoz and Grace Mummery to start the inning. The Cardinals attempted a double steal with Munoz getting to third, but Mummery being caught stealing on the back end. Cassie Feyh would pick up her runner with an RBI groundout that scored Munoz and made it a 4-1 Cardinal advantage. They were back on the board in the bottom of the fourth as the Cardinals once again loaded the bases with one out. Makie Paxson would move the runners station to station with an RBI single and a fielder's choice would bring up the second out of the inning. Mummery would then step up, and reached on a dropped third strike as Stoner scored to make it a 6-1 Cardinals advantage.
 

Wise continued her success in the circle, keeping it a 6-1 Cardinal advantage until the top of the sixth, when she allowed a solo home run. It would end up being her only other blemish on the day, as she finished the complete game, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking one out and walking five. It was Wise's second career complete game effort as she led the Cardinals in the circle. Wheeling would answer in the bottom of the sixth as Brooke Slomkowski singled to start the inning. Feyh would step up and double her home as the Cardinals extended their lead to 7-2. Madison Kay and Hollerich would follow with back-to-back walks and a sacrifice fly by Sare made it an 8-2 game. A hit-by-pitch would once again load the bases and Stoner would drive in the final run of the game as Wheeling went on to win 9-2.
 

The Cardinals were led by the duo of Cassie Feyh and Natalie Stoner, as each finished 2-4 with two RBI on the day. Feyh added an extra base hit as she got the bat going in game two. Madison Kay would also finish with two RBI on the day, going 1-3 with her first collegiate home run. Katie Sare and Makie Paxson would each drive in a run to round out the day as the Cardinals moved to 1-1 on the season. The win on February 11th is one of the earliest wins in a calendar year for the Cardinals and they look to keep the momentum going through their action-packed non-conference schedule.
 

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Thursday, February 15th, when they travel to Seton Hill with first pitch at 2 PM.