Institute, W. Va. – The Mountain East Conference (MEC) South Division weekend came to an end for the Wheeling University Softball team (4-26, 0-8) as they made the short drive from Charleston to Institute, West Virginia. The Cardinals battled West Virginia State in doubleheader action and ended up dropping both halves of that doubleheader. Game one went to West Virginia State with an 8-0 win before the Cardinals finished the weekend with a 6-0 loss to wrap things up.

Game One: West Virginia State 8, Wheeling 0

As they did against Charleston, the Cardinals sent freshman Ryleigh Peters out to the circle to start game one. Through the first five innings, she was able to do just that, keeping West Virginia State at bay, allowing just two runs. Two of those innings were 1-2-3 affairs as she gave her team a chance to stay in the game. The first Yellow Jacket run would come in the third inning and they added another in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead over the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Wheeling's first hit would come in the top of the third on a Kelsi Green single, but their biggest threat came in the top of the fifth. Green would start things out with her second single of the day and then stole second to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Kylea Chapple would then draw a walk and two batters later, Makie Paxson would walk to load the bases.

However, a groundout would end the inning and the Cardinals would come away with the score still remaining at 2-0 in favor of West Virginia State. However, the bottom of the sixth inning would see the Yellow Jackets put six runs up on the board and it enacted the mercy rule that would bring the game to an end after the sixth inning. In the inning before, the Cardinals would go 1-2-3 ending their offensive day. For Peters, she would work the complete game effort, going 5.2 innings allowing eight runs, four earned, in nine hits while walking one and striking out two. Peters continues to be the go-to pitcher for Head Coach Mallory Chapman this season as she continues to work in the circle. However, the Cardinals would drop their second straight game via shutout, falling 8-0 to wrap up game one.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Kelsi Green, who finished 2-2 with two stolen bases on the day. She was the only Cardinal between the two games to come up with a multi-hit effort as she led the way from the bottom of the order. The other Cardinal hit would come from Natalie Stoner, who finished 1-3 and followed Green with a single of her own during that fifth inning. As they headed into game two, the Cardinals would look to split to salvage a game during the weekend set.

Game Two: West Virginia State 6, Wheeling 0

In the second game of the day, the Cardinals once again got a strong showing in the circle, this time from Randi Holder. Like Peters in game one, Holder was able to hold the Yellow Jackets at bay early, allowing just two runs over the first five innings of play. After allowing solo runs in the first and third inning, Holder seemed to get stronger as the game went on. She retired the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings as she gave her team a chance to battle back in the game. The Cardinals threatened a couple times early on, getting runners to third in both the second and third inning. In the second it was a wild pitch that advanced Cassie Feyh to third and in the third it was a groundout that moved Natalie Stoner to third. However, both times the runners were left stranded and the inning came to an end.

However, just like in game one, it was a late push by West Virginia State that took them over the edge as they put a four spot up to expand their lead to 6-9. It would be the end of Randi Holder's day as she threw 6.0 innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits while walking two and striking out four. As the top of the seventh approached, the Cardinals would fight to get back into the game, however, they would fall short. They were retired 1-2-3 in the inning and the Cardinals would fall 6-0 to end the day. They ended up getting shutout for the third straight game as the look to find a way back into the win column as they have one final MEC doubleheader before the Easter Break.

On the offensive side, the Cardinals had two different players get hits to round out the effort. The first was courtesy of Makie Paxson, who finished 1-2 with a single on the day as she continued her success as of late. She finished the weekend hitting 2-8 with two singles as she moves her average to .292 on the season. The other Cardinal hit on the day came from Natalie Stoner, who equaled Paxson's effort finishing 1-2.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Friday, March 29th, when they hit the road to face Fairmont State at noon.