Wheeling, W. Va- The Wheeling University Softball team (0-2), (0-0) tries to right the ship and move on from its tough season-opener against UINDY to focus on their next tough non-conference opponent: the Malone Pioneers. It is still early in the season, so Wheeling has time to improve and the best time to do so is during non-conference play.
The double-header against the Greyhounds on February 13th saw the Cardinals fall by scores of 14-0 in the first game and 11-2 in the second one. Maria Clark got the nod in the first one and it did not take too long for UINDY to flex their pop at the plate. Clark would get through the first inning and the beginning of the second with two strikeouts down 2-0. A walk would be the start of a scoring landslide, as UINDY cleared the bases and it was 7-0. Wheeling made a change in the circle to bring out freshman Kearstin Monday. She would close out the final 3.1 innings as the Greyhound offense continued to click and finished a 14-0 win in game one.
Game two saw similar production from UINDY, but Wheeling showed more fight. Tessa Wise started for the Cards, but the inning finished with Tasiana Taufahema with the Greyhounds scoring six in the first inning. Amber Morgan recorded the first official hit and run of the season. She singled to first and Warrix tripled to bring her across the plate in the next at-bat. A sacrifice fly to the infield from Ava Kresak brought Warrix home from third. Taufahema kept working, allowing no more than two runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Cardinals started to see some good fortune in the bottom of the fifth. A single from Denise Carrillo and another single that turned into a double off an error by the Greyhounds from Amber Morgan put runners in scoring position for Wheeling. Warrix loaded the bases up with a single, however, two strike outs and game two concluded with UNINDY on top 11-2.
As mentioned, Tasiana Taufahema let a max of two runners score when in the circle in game two. The freshman recorded six strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched, which were the highest in both categories for Wheeling in both games. Sophomore Amber Morgan finished leading the Cards with two hits and a run and Keke Warrix put the ball in play and scored once.
The Matchup
Malone and Wheeling have met only once back on March 5th, 2019. In the lone meeting, the Pioneers come out with a 7-3 win over the Cardinals in Clermont, Florida. Tomorrow's game will be the season opener for the Pioneers and they will be looking to start the 2025 season with a big road win.
To close out its 2024 campaign, the Pioneers finished 28-20 and 13-13 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC). They made the conference tournament as the eight-seed and were projected to finish at the same spot in the GMAC Preseason Poll this season. The Pioneers return five hitters who finished with an average of .300 or more and Mia Rose, a sophomore pitcher who finished with a 16-12 record and a 2.30 ERA in 182.2 innings pitched.
The Details
The Wheeling University Softball team will take on Malone University on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, on the outside turf at the Highlands Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm. The game will be streamed live on the Mountain East Digital Network HERE and LiveStats can be viewed HERE.
