Wheeling, W. Va. - After bad weather had pushed the Wheeling University Baseball team's (0-0, 0-0) 2025 opener back twice already, the Cardinals are finally ready to take the field to open the 2025 season. They will head to GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia on Sunday to kick-off a four-game in-region set against Pitt-Johnstown. The first two games will be played on Sunday, beginning at 1 PM, followed by the second two games of the series on Monday at 1 PM.
The 2024 campaign saw the Cardinals have their highs and lows, resulting in a 25-26 season. After falling to California University of Pennsylvania in the opening weekend, Wheeling would go on a tear, winning nine of the next 10 games to head into conference play at 9-3. They would open MEC play with a tough weekend against the University of Charleston and West Virginia State, but responded taking three out of four in each of the next two weekends against the MEC South. As they headed into Divisional play, the Cardinals did just enough, splitting three of the four weekends, while dropping the weekend to Frostburg State. They would finish 13-15 in MEC play, and would earn the #3 seed in the MEC North for the Tournament. They would take on the two #1 seeds in their first two games, falling to Charleston 10-0 and being eliminated with an 8-7 loss to end their season.
While a majority of the Cardinal's team is new, Wheeling does have a veteran presence returning on the mound. Leading the way is graduate student Kody McCarley, who returns as the team's ace for the 2025 season. In 2024, McCarley earned Honorable Mention All-MEC honors, leading the Cardinals with a 6-2 record and a 4.97 ERA over 58.0 innings of work. He would finish second on the team in both appearances (13) and starts (11) while adding 52 strikeouts in 58.0 innings of work. He would throw two complete games during the season and anchors a Cardinal pitching staff that looks to lead the way. In the bullpen, it is Hunter Dyck who will be looking for a bounce back, after playing several different roles a season ago. He finished with a 7.32 ERA over 19.2 innings of work, and looks to be a strong late-inning option for Lewicki.
On the offense, the Cardinals will see the return of three of their nine starters, with Nic Ancelet leading the way. Ancelet had a break-out senior campaign that saw him hit a team-best .355, with his best baseball coming down the stretch. He was also the team's leading threat on the basepaths, finishing 24 for 27 in stolen bases on the season. In the middle of the lineup, the Cardinals will have Spencer Craig returning, coming off a breakout year of his own. Craig would bat .302 a season ago, setting career highs with six home runs and 34 RBI. He finished third on the team in both home runs and RBI and looks to continue to be a big producer for the Cardinals in 2025.
As they begin their non-conference schedule, the Cardinals are placing a heavy focus on in-region play as they chase down their goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Of their 12 non-conference games to start the season, the Cardinals will play nine in-region games, with the only exceptions being St. Thomas Aquinas and a two-game set against Carolina University. While the Cardinals will be considered the home team at GoMart Ballpark over the weekend, it will start a string of 17 games away from the J.B. Chambers I-470 complex to start the season and they look to get started hot on the road before they come in front of their home crowd for the first time at the end of March.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Mountain Cats will be meeting for the 26th time in program history on Sunday, with Pitt-Johnstown leading the all-time series at 16-9. However, when the Cardinals are the home team, they hold a 4-5 record compared to a 5-11 mark when they go on the road. Wheeling is averaging 5.28 runs per game in the all-time series, and have won four of the last five meetings between the two teams.
Sunday will mark the first time since the 2013 season that the two teams have met, with their last meeting coming on April 7th, 2013. The Cardinals would spilt a doubleheader on that day, losing the first game 5-3 before winning the second game 13-3. In game one, the Cardinals were led by former Cardinal Mitch Ludweig, who finished 1-1 with an RBI. Game two featured a strong start from former Cardinal Jordan Kraus, who went 5.0 innings allowing three runs, while going 4-5 at the plate with three doubles and five RBI.
The Details
First pitch for Sunday's opener is scheduled for 1 PM inside GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia. Stay tuned to wucardinals.com for updates throughout the day.
