Wheeling, W. Va. - The early season schedule has its challenging opponents for the Wheeling University Softball team (1-3, 0-0) and they continue that challenging trek on Tuesday. They stay inside the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as they hit the road to take on Seton Hill in doubleheader action with first pitch at 12:30 PM. The Cardinals look to get back in the win column, before they close out the month with their final two games before their spring break trip.
Last time out, the Cardinals battled against a tough IUP team that came out swinging throughout the day. In the first game, it would be the Cardinals that took the early lead, going up 3-0 after a two-run home run in the top of the first. However, IUP would respond with three runs or more in each of the next three innings and went on to pick up a 12-3 win. In the second game, the Cardinals would once again use the long ball to take an early lead, leading 2-0 after one. However, IUP put up a 12-spot in the bottom of the inning as they once again took a big lead. The Cardinals responded with five runs of their own in the top of the third, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals fell 19-8 to finish out the doubleheader.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was freshman Madison Kay, who continues to go on a tear through her first four collegiate games. She combined to go 3-6 across the two games with two home runs and four RBI, with each of her two home runs giving the Cardinals an early lead. In the first game, she followed a Cassie Feyh RBI single with a two-run shot and would drive Maddie Munoz home with another two-run shot in the top of the first in game two. Through her first four games, Kay has hit .462 while leading the way with three home runs and six RBI. She is tied for the MEC lead in home runs with Concord's Lacie Lewis and tied for sixth with her six RBI. She looks to continue to be a big part of the middle of the lineup as they head through their non-conference schedule.
The Cardinals have also gotten a spark at the top of the lineup from shortstop Jenna Hollerich, who leads the team with a .583 average this season. She has reached base in eight of her 13 at-bats this season and had her strongest effort in the second game against IUP. Hollerich would go 2-3 with her first RBI of the season and currently sits third in the MEC with her .583 average this season. Cassie Feyh rounds out the top three Cardinal hitters with a .357 average and four RBI across 14 at-bats. Feyh was the team's leader in both home runs and RBI a season ago and has continued that success into 2024. She went 3-6 with a double and two RBI across the two games as she helped the Cardinals battle back as part of that five run top of the third.
With two more doubleheaders left before they head on their spring trip, the Cardinals look to take advantage of the tough competition. The offense has led the way for the Cardinals so far in the early going, scoring six or more runs in three of the first four games of the season. As a team, the Cardinals lead the MEC with a .346 average over their first four games while sitting fourth with a .393 on-base percentage. As they round out this non-conference stretch, they look to continue to provide support for their pitchers as they head towards MEC play.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Griffins are meeting for the 13th and 14th time in program history, with Seton Hill leading the all-time series at 9-3 overall. The Cardinals have averaged 4.17 runs per game during the first 12 games of the series and hold a 1-5 record in six road matchups. The Cardinals are looking to break a five-game losing streak at the hands of the Griffins and get their first win since March 2nd, 2020.
In their most recent meeting, Seton Hill would sweep a doubleheader with victories of 12-3 and 13-1. The Cardinals were led in game one by Makie Paxson, who finished 1-3 with a run scored on the day while game two saw Madison George go 2-3 with an RBI to lead the way. Former Cardinal Abby Bumbico would allow two earned runs across the two games to lead the way in the circle.
The Details
First pitch for Tuesday's doubleheader is scheduled for 12:30 PM inside the SHU Softball Complex on the campus of Seton Hill University. You can follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
