Jefferson City, TN. - Throughout the week, the Wheeling University Softball team (3-13, 0-0) has spent the week in the Virginia and Tennessee area for their annual spring trip. On Sunday, that spring trip ends as the Cardinals visit Carson-Newman University with first pitch at 11:30 AM. Wheeling is looking for their first win of the trip before they come back home to prepare for Mountain East Conference (MEC) play.
Last time out, the Cardinals battled Emory & Henry College and would fall in doubleheader action by scores of 10-2 and 8-0. In the first game of the day, the Cardinals continued their streak of scoring first, getting on the board in the top of the first for the third straight game. However, the Wasps offense was fast and furious, putting up 10 unanswered runs over the next three innings as they enforced the mercy rule as the Cardinals fell 10-2. In the second game, Emory & Henry once again came out hot and the Cardinals battled against tough pitching. In the end, the team fell 8-0 to drop to 3-13 on the season.
When the Cardinals needed a boost out of the bullpen, they got one in both games as Maria Clark and Tessa Wise each provided solid innings in relief. Clark would get the call in game one and threw 2.0 scoreless innings while striking out two of the six batters she faced on the day. With the effort, Clark lowered her ERA to 7.30 on the season as she continues her success in the relief role. It was her third scoreless outing of the season when coming out of the bullpen and was the fifth time in 10 appearances where she held the opposition to three earned runs or less. She looks to continue her success in the circle as the Cardinals get set for MEC play.
Tessa Wise followed her in relief for the second game and like Clark was not charged with an earned run. She would throw 2.1 innings in her outing, allowing two unearned runs on one hit while walking one and striking out one. Wise dealt with injuries last season that only allowed her to appear in nine games and she is looking to use a full year in 2024 to help the Cardinal's pitching staff. At the plate, it was Anna Florczak who led the way, picking up the lone multi-hit effort of the day in game one. She finished 2-2 with an RBI and scored the other run herself in the effort. Florczak is currently tied for third on the team with seven RBI this season and looks to add to the Cardinal's lineup depth this season.
With just three more doubleheaders remaining before they jump into MEC play, the Cardinals will look to use these final three to get ready for the MEC Tournament push. After wrapping up their spring trip, the Cardinals will go back on the road for one final mid-week non-conference doubleheader. They then start the opening conference weekend with a non-conference doubleheader against Salem before taking on Notre Dame College in their official MEC opening game. Despite their record, the Cardinals have hit the ball well throughout the season, sitting fourth in the conference with a .298 batting average through 16 games played. The offense looks to continue to be a source of success for the team heading into conference play.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Eagles will be meeting for the first time in program history on Sunday morning in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The Eagles have started the season 10-10 through their first 20 games, but hold a strong 5-1 record in their home park. Last season, the team went 31-8 as they made the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals look to wrap up the spring trip strong and do it against one of the top teams in the midwest region.
The Details
First pitch for Sunday's game is scheduled for 11:30 AM on the campus of Carson-Newman University. You can follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE or watch live by clicking HERE.
