South Euclid, OH. – The Wheeling University Softball team (9-43, 4-24) opened their final weekend of the 2024 season on Friday in South Euclid, Ohio. The Cardinal seniors would be the ones leading the way for the team as they suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Notre Dame College. The Cardinals dropped game one 7-0 to start the day and followed with an 8-0 loss in game two to round out the days competition.

Game One: Notre Dame College 7, Wheeling 0

In the first game, the Cardinals threatened throughout the day, with runners on base in four of the seven innings, but just weren't able to push across the big runs. In the first inning, Chyla Miller would pick up the team's first hit of the day, but was thrown out advancing to second. Senior Anna Florczak would follow with her first single of the day to give the Cardinals a runner on and two outs. Unfortunately, they were unable to push across a run and Notre Dame College tacked on in the bottom of the first, putting up a five-spot that made it 5-0 after one inning. After that, starting pitcher Ryleigh Peters settled down and finished strong in the circle. She allowed just two runs over the final six innings, and turned a slow start into a strong outing. She finished the complete game effort, throwing 6.0 innings allowing seven runs, five earned, on six hits while walking two and striking out five.

Even with the cards stacked against them, the offense kept battling throughout the night. They had at least one runner on in four of the seven innings, with their biggest threat coming in the top of the fourth when Anna Florczak was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Kelsi Green would pinch run. Three batters later, Maddie Munoz would step up with two outs and drew a walk to get a runner to scoring position. However, that is where the threat would end and the game would stay at 5-0. Their next threat came in the top of the seventh when Munoz singled and got herself into scoring position after an error. That would be as far as she got and the game would come to an end with Wheeling falling 7-0.

The Cardinals had four hits on the day by four different players with seniors Anna Florczak and Maddie Munoz leading the way. They each finished 1-2 on the day with both picking up singles. Florczak got things started early with a single and Munoz's came late as they both started their final weekend strong. The other two hits came from Chyla Miller and Maria Clark, as both finished 1-3 to round out the day.

Game Two: Notre Dame College 8, Wheeling 0

Heading into game two, the Cardinals sent Tessa Wise into the circle for the game two start. She got things started strong, working her way around a one-out single to keep the Falcons off the board. However, Notre Dame College's offense got going on the bottom of the second, putting up a three spot to take a 3-0 lead. She came back out for the third, but a five spot would spell the end of the day for Wise. She ended up going 2.0 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits while walking three and striking out one. Maria Clark would come in relief and threw the final two innings. She would allow one run on two hits while striking out two. She was able to hold Notre Dame College off the board in the fourth inning and brought the Cardinals to the plate in the fifth as they looked to stay alive.

On offense, the Cardinals had a hard time breaking through, but one of the seniors hit a milestone moment in the top of the second. Cassie Feyh stepped in to start the inning and lined a single to right field to lead things off. It was the 100th hit of her collegiate career as she made it to third with two outs. The final Cardinal hit of the day would come from another senior in that same inning as Munoz reached on a single that moved Feyh to third. Unfortunately, those were the only two hits of the day as the game came to an end with the Cardinals falling 8-0 in five innings of play.

For senior Cassie Feyh, she led the way going 1-2 and picking up her 100th career hit. She is the third Cardinal to reach the 100 career hits plateau in the past week as she wraps up a strong collegiate career. Maddie Munoz would get the other hit for the Cardinals to round out the offense. With one more doubleheader on the schedule, the Cardinals look to finish out strong.

The Wheeling University Softball team wraps up the 2024 season on Saturday when they travel to Salem with first pitch at 4 PM. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.