Bristol, TN. – The Wheeling University Softball team (3-11, 0-0) is spending the week down in the Virginia and Tennessee area as they play through their annual spring training trip. The first leg of that trip came to an end on Monday as the Cardinals battled Kings University looking to bounce back. The Cardinals battled throughout the day, but would fall dropping a 5-4 contest in game one and following it with a 6-1 defeat in game two as the team heads into two off days before returning to action Thursday.

Game One: Kings 5, Wheeling 4

The first game of the day was a back and forth contest throughout, and it was the Cardinal's who got things started in the top of the first. Makie Paxson would be hit by a pitch to start the inning and would remain at first with one out as Madison Kay came to the plate. Kay would continue her power stroke to start the season, lifting a two-run shot to left field to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals would get another runner on with a Cassie Feyh single and held the 2-0 lead after a half an inning. Maria Clark would get the start in the circle, and in the first inning allowed just one base runner before retiring the side. Kings University would get on the board in the bottom of the second, putting a three spot up before the Cardinals would get back on the board in the two innings later.

Feyh would walk to start the inning and was pinch ran for by Kelsi Green. The Cardinals would move the runner to second when Anna Florczak reached on an error. Two batters later, Chyla Miller would put the ball in play and the Cardinals would take advantage as Green would come home and tie the game at 3-3. Clark would keep her team in the game throughout the day, until the bottom of the fifth when they pushed across the go ahead run to take a 4-3 lead. Clark would finish the day throwing 4.1 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits while walking eight and striking out one. The Tornados would add one more run before the game was over and Kings University would  take game one by that 5-3 score.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was freshman Madison Kay, who finished 1-3 with the home run and two of her team's three RBI. It was her team-leading fourth home run of the season as she continues to be a force in the middle of the Cardinal's lineup. Cassie Feyh would add a 2-2 effort on the day and Chyla Miller would drive in the other run on the day with a sacrifice bunt. The Cardinals looked to keep the battle going as they headed into game two of the day.

Game Two: Kings University 6, Wheeling 1

Just as they did in the first game, the Cardinals would be the one to get on the board first in game two. Both teams were held off the board in the first and the Cardinals would start the second with Grace Mummery being hit by a pitch. Chyla Miller would lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Mummery into scoring position and moved to third on a wild pitch. Natalie Stoner would come up with a runner on third and one out and came through. She would end up grounding out to shortstop, and Mummery would come home to score and give Wheeling a 1-0 advantage. However, Kings University would take that lead right back in the bottom of the second as they put up a two-spot to take a 2-1 lead. Ryleigh Peters would get the start and after allowing those two runs in the bottom of the second, settled in with a scoreless bottom of the third.

Peters would end up throwing her first complete game effort of her collegiate career. She would throw 6.0 innings of work, allowing six runs, three earned, on seven hits while walking one and striking out one. Peters has now allowed three earned runs or less in three of her last four outings in the circle and is becoming a reliable option for Head Coach Mallory Chapman. The Tornados would end up scoring six unanswered runs and built a 6-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh. However, the Cardinals would be retired 1-2-3 and the game would come to its final score of 6-1. The Cardinals will now take the next two days off before they begin the second leg of their spring trip on Thursday.

The Cardinals lone run of the day came courtesy of Natalie Stoner, who finished with an RBI groundout. The Cardinals finished with two hits on the day as Makie Paxson and Kelsi Green each picked up hits Green would finish 1-2 on the day while Paxson added a 1-3 mark to wrap things up.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Thursday, March 7th, when they take on Emory & Henry College with first pitch at 1 PM.