Wheeling, W. Va. – It was a special day at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex on Saturday, as the Wheeling University Softball team honored their class of 2024 seniors on senior day. 11 Cardinals were honored for their time in a Wheeling Uniform as the team welcomed in Frostburg State on Saturday. Wheeling battled throughout the afternoon, but would fall in game one 8-7 before dropping the second game 12-1 to round out the night.

Game 1: Frostburg State 8, Wheeling 7

The first game would prove to be an offensive battle between the two teams, with the lead changing hands three times during the game. After a 1-2-3 top of the first from Ryleigh Peters, the offense would get to work as Chyla Miller and Anna Florczak started the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles. Senior Cassie Feyh would get the offense going with an RBI single that scored Miller and gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Maddie Munoz would collect her 100th career hit as she brought home Florczak, who had her 100th career hit earlier in the inning, to make it a 2-0 Cardinal advantage. It would be the first of three straight RBI hits for the Cardinals as Katie Sare and Maria Clark each hit RBI singles and the Cardinals were staked to a 4-0 lead after one.

Peters would deliver another scoreless inning in the top of the second and the Cardinals went back to work in the bottom half. Chyla Miller would get things going with a one-out single and two batters later, Feyh would step back in and delivered once again. This time, it was an RBI double to bring home Miller and the Cardinals were riding high with a 5-0 lead heading into the third inning. Frostburg State would respond with three runs of their own and cut the Cardinal lead to 5-3. The game would stay at 5-3 until the top of the fifth when the Bobcats put up a pair of runs to take a 6-5 lead, their first of the day. 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Cardinals found a way to get the offense back as Feyh started the inning with a single and Munoz drew a one out walk to put two on and one out for the Cardinals. Maria Clark would step in and was able to tie the game with a single as she brought home Feyh to make it a 6-6 game. With two outs, Makie Paxson would step in and delivered a clutch two-out single that brought home pinch runner Priscilla Villareal as the Cardinals found themselves back in front 7-6. The back and forth continued into the top of the sixth, as Frostburg State would push across what ended up being the game-winning run as they took an 8-7 lead with two more at-bats for the Cardinals.

Peters would end up working 4.0 innings in the game, allowing six runs, four earned, on nine hits while walking one and striking out two. Randi Holder would come on in relief, working the final 3.0 innings of the game, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while walking one and striking out two. The Cardinals came up in the bottom of the seventh trailing by a run as they looked to battle back in the game. However, they would go 1-2-3 in that final inning and the game would come to an end at 8-7.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was senior Casaie Feyh, who would finish 3-4 with a double and two RBI in the game. She helped drive in two of the Cardinal's five runs over the first two innings of play and had a strong showing in her senior day game. The other Cardinal to pick up three hits was Chyla Miller, who finished 3-4 with a pair of runs scored. Maria Clark would round out the top three for the Cardinals as she finished 2-4 with a pair of RBI. The Cardinals would look to bounce back in game two on the day.

Game Two: Frostburg State 12, Wheeling 1

Just like they did in the first game, the Cardinals would jump out to an early lead in game two. After Tessa Wise held the Bobcats to a single base runner in the first, the Cardinals came to the plate and started swinging. Natalie Stoner would single to start the inning and was replaced at first by Chyla Miller on a fielder's choice. Anna Florczak would step up and get two runners to scoring position with a double the brought Feyh to the plate in another run scoring position with less than two outs. She would come through again, this time hitting an RBI groundout that brought Miller in from third and made it a 1-0 Wheeling advantage. However, that groundout would result in the only run of the inning and the Cardinals went into the second with a 1-0 lead.

The Frostburg State offense would find their groove in that inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs. They would add two more in the top of the third to push their lead to 8-1, and a four spot in the top of the fifth would put the mercy rule into effect with Wheeling holding a 12-1 lead. Wise would start the game and throw 1.1 innings before giving way to senior Jamie Anderson. Anderson would throw 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing six runs, four earned, on six hits while walking two and striking out one. Maria Clark would be called on for the final inning of relief, and did not allow a run while striking out a batter In the seventh, the Cardinals were unable to push across a run and they would fall 12-1 to end the day.

Leading the way in the second game was a trio of Cardinals seniors who combined for the three hits on the day. Kelsi Green, Anna Florczak, and Natalie Stoner each picked up one hit on the day, with each finishing 1-2. Cassie Feyh would drive in the run for the Cardinals, picking up her third RBI of the day to round out the game.

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Sunday, April 21st when they take on Fairmont State with first pitch at 12 PM.