Wheeling, W. Va. – After playing each of their last three doubleheaders on the road, the Wheeling University Softball team (3-5, 0-0) returns home for a unique matchup on Thursday morning. They will play host to the University of Indianapolis inside the Highlands Sports Complex with first pitch at 11 AM. It will be the second straight year that the Cardinals have hosted the Greyhounds in the indoor facility and they look to take advantage of the unique atmosphere.
On Monday, the Cardinals were in action as they picked up a road doubleheader on Monday against Ursuline College. After battling through a pair of tough Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheaders in the two matchups prior, it was time for the Cardinals offense to take the lead. They got out to an early start in game one, scoring seven runs through the first two innings of play to take a 7-1 advantage. Ursuline began to battle back, getting to within one run of the Cardinals, but an insurance run in the top of the fourth was enough to lift them to an 8-6 win. In game two, the Cardinals and Saints traded runs in the first, before the Cardinals got going. They scored seven runs between the third and fourth innings and went on to pick up their first mercy rule win at 10-1 to pick up their first sweep of the season.
Leading the way for the Cardinals on the day was Cassie Feyh, who continued her hot start to the season. Across the two games, the senior went 4-7 with two doubles and five RBI, and was one of three different Cardinals to finish with multiple RBI on the day. Feyh is off to a career best start to the season, that has seen her lead the Cardinals with a .536 average and puts her second on the team with nine RBI. She picked up half of those RBI in this most recent doubleheader. Feyh currently ranks fourth in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) with her .536 batting average, while also ranking in the top 10 in both on-base percentage (.552) and OPS (1.302). Feyh looks to continue her strong showing as the season moves on and the Cardinals prepare to embark on their annual spring trip.
Finishing behind Feyh was Makie Paxson, who put together her best performance of the 2024 season to this point. She finished a combined 5-8 between the two games with a double, four runs scored, and two RBI. After hitting near the bottom of the Cardinal order early in the season, Paxson got her first shot at the top of the lineup and made the most of her opportunity. In game two, she was the lone Cardinal to finish with three hits and raised her average to third best on the team at .440. Rounding out the Cardjnal's success was freshman Madison Kay, who continued her strong freshman campaign. She finished 5-9 across the two games, adding a double, two runs scored, and three RBI. Kay has been one of the top run producers in the conference this season, sitting second in the MEC with three home runs and seventh with her 10 RBI.
Thursday will mark the Cardinal's final doubleheader before they set off for their annual spring trip. Head Coach Mallory Chapman has made it a point to schedule tough competition for her girls to prepare them for the rigor of a MEC schedule. After taking on two of the top teams in the PSAC over their first few doubleheaders of the season, the Cardinals now will face one of the top teams in the region in UINDY. Their spring trip will follow, giving them a chance to take on some of the top teams from across the country as they look to both gain confidence and get ready for what's ahead. They are already four wins away from their total from the entire 2023 season, and they look to not only reach that number, but built upon it as they chase down a spot in the 2024 MEC Tournament.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Greyhounds are meeting for the seventh and eighth times in program history, with UINDY leading the all-time series with a record of 6-0. It will be the fifth and sixth times the two teams have met in Wheeling, and continues the yearly rivalry which enters it's third season in 2024. Wheeling will look to get the offense going this time around as they scored five runs in the first six matchups between the two teams.
Last season, the two teams also met inside the Highlands Sports Complex with UINDY sweeping the day with wins of 13-0 and 9-0. Leading the way for the Cardinals was Maddie Munoz, who finished 2-4 on the day to lead the Cardinals. Makie Paxson and former Cardinal Leah Klockowski each picked up hits of their own as they rounded out the day.
The Details
First pitch for Thursday morning's doubleheader is scheduled for 11 AM inside the Highlands Sports Complex turf field. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
