West Liberty, W. Va. – The 2024 Mountain East Conference (MEC) schedule rolled on for the Wheeling University Softball team (4-22, 0-4) as they headed to the hilltop to take on rival West Liberty. It was a three-hit day for Makie Paxson, who finished 3-5 between the two games, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals would be swept on the day. A late comeback attempt for the Cardinals fell short in game one as the dropped an 8-4 contest before West Liberty earned the game two shutout in a 6-0 affair.

Game One: West Liberty 8, Wheeling 4

The first game of the day saw West Liberty get out to a fast start, scoring five runs in the first two innings as they took an early 5-0 advantage. However, as they have done all season, the Cardinals would battle and answered with their first run in the top of the third. With one out in the inning, Makie Paxson would get on base with a walk before a wild pitch moved her into scoring position. Natalie Stoner would follow with a single that got the runners to the corners with one out and Chyla Miller followed with a walk that loaded the bases. Brooke Slomkowski would then step in and took advantage of an error on the shortstop as Paxson and Stoner came around to score to make it a 5-2 game. That is where it would stay heading into the bottom of the third, and another West Liberty run brought the score to 6-2 after three.

Ryleigh Peters took to the circle in game one and was able to settle down a little bit after the hot Hilltopper start. She would allow just two runs over the final three innings of play and finished out the complete game effort. Peters would throw 6.0 innings allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 18 hits while walking two and striking out one. It was Peter's sixth complete game effort of the season as she continues to be a workhorse for the team. Two West Liberty runs in the bottom of the fifth would make it an 8-2 game and the score sat at that same mark as the teams entered the top of the seventh. The Cardinals would get the first two batters to reach as Paxson singled and Stoner reached on an error to put two on and nobody out.

Natalie Stoner would steal second to put two runners in scoring position with one out for Brooke Slomkowski. She would drive in her third run of the day lifting a sacrifice fly to centerfield as Paxson came home to score to make it an 8-3 game. The next batter was Cassie Feyh, who kept her six-game hit streak alive with a two-out single that brought home Stoner and made it an 8-4 game. Unfortunately, that is as close as the team would get as the inning would end and West Liberty room game one 8-4.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Paxson, who reached base three times, two singles and a walk, while scoring two of the team's four runs. She was a big inning starter for the Cardinals from the nine spot in the order as she looks to continue her success through conference play. The Cardinals got three of their four RBI in the game courtesy of Brooke Slomkowski, who brought home two with an error and one with a sacrifice fly, while the other RBI came from Cassie Feyh who went 1-4 with a single. The Cardinals would look to bounce back as they headed into game two of the day.

Game Two: West Liberty 6, Wheeling 0

In the second game of the day, the Cardinals would threaten a couple of times throughout the day, but couldn't push a run across. After got the first hit of the day with a single in the top of the second, the Cardinals had their first threat in the top of the third. The inning started with a pair of groundouts, before Chyla Miller singled to start things out. Brooke Slomkowski would take advantage of another West Liberty error, and runners were at first and second with two outs. Cassie Feyh would draw a walk to load the bases, but the Cardinals would leave them loaded as the inning came to an end on a fielder's choice. They would get another runner on in the top of the sixth with a single by Jenna Hollerich, and the Cardinals put a runner in scoring position with a Makie Paxson double, but it wasn't enough to push across a run.

In the circle, Tessa Wise would get the start after coming off two strong relief outings the last two times out. Wise was solid through the first two innings, allowing just two base runners during those two innings. However, the Hilltoppers would add their first two runs in the third inning and scored at least one run over each of the final four innings of play. Wise would stay in the circle for the complete game effort, allowing six runs on nine hits while walking four batters. The Cardinals threatened in the final inning, but the game  would come to an end with West Liberty walking away with a 6-0 win.

On the offensive side, the four hits came from four different players as Makie Paxson led the way with a 1-3 effort from the number nine spot. She was able to complete her three hit day as she continues to find her stroke at the plate. Chyla Miller, Jenna Hollerich, and Madison Kay would pick up the other three hits to round things out.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Saturday, March 23rd, when they travel to Charleston with first pitch at 2 PM.