Game One: Gannon 9, Wheeling 3

Coming off her strongest outing of the season, Kearstin Monday would get the call in game one for the Cardinals, but the Golden Knights offense came out strong. They scored once before an out was recorded and added three more runs in the inning to take a 4-0 lead after a half an inning. However, the Cardinal offense would respond in the bottom half of the inning as Ava Kresak got things started with a single, the first of three hits on the day for the freshman. She would advance to second on a wild pitch and a groundout moved her to third with one out. Amber Morgan would step in and brought home the first run of the game, reaching on an error to score Kresak and make it a 4-1 game after one inning. However, the Golden Knights would put up a three-spot in the top half of the inning, spelling the end of the day for Monday.

The Cardinals would trail 7-1 and Tausiana Tofahema would get the call from the bullpen, trying to keep the score where it was. She was able to do just that with a scoreless top of the third and the Cardinals rewarded her in the bottom half of the inning. It was once again Kresak that got things started, this time with a one-out single, and she advanced to second on a ground out. Once again it would be Morgan stepping to the plate and she ripped a ball to the centerfield wall for a double, scoring Kresak. The Cardinals had cut the lead to 7-2, and Taufahema would add a scoreless top of the fourth to keep it that was heading into the fifth. The Cardinals bent but did not break in the top of the fifth, allowing two runs to keep it a seven-run deficit heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Though they were not in danger of the eight-run rule this time around, the Cardinals were on the board once again in the bottom of the fifth. Taufahema would help herself with a single to start the inning, and two batters later Kresak picked up her third hit of the day to put runners at first and second with one away. Chyla Miller would load the bases with a single and another run scoring opportunity brought Morgan to the plate. She would come through once again, this time grounding into a fielder's choice to bring home Taufahema and make it a 9-3 game. That would be their final run of the game, but Taufahema finished out a strong outing, tossing two more scoreless innings. In their last at-bats of the night, the Cardinals threatened as Morgan reached on a single, but that would be it for the Cardinals as they fell to Gannon 9-3.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Amber Morgan, who was a part of all three runs on the day, finishing 2-4 with a pair of RBI. It was the second straight game that Morgan has finished with multiple hits and the third time in the team's five games. Finishing behind her was Ava Kresak, who had her first three hit game of the season going 3-4, while Tasiana Taufahema collected the final Cardinal hit, going 1-1. Taufahema's biggest showing of the day came in the circle, where she came in relief and threw 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while walking three and striking out three. The Cardinals would look to earn the split as they headed into game two.

Game Two: Gannon 12, Wheeling 4

Wheeling would call on its veteran picture in game two, sending Maria Clark to the circle as they look to earn a split. Clark gave them until they needed early on, allowing one base runner in the top of the first before retiring the side. Wheeling would come to the bat racks in the bottom half of the inning and Chyla Miller would get things started with a one-out single. Amber Morgan, who drove in two runs in game one, followed with a single to put runners at first and third before Tasiana Taufahema brought home the game's first run with a sacrifice bunt to give Wheeling a 1-0 lead. It was the first time this season that the Cardinals have scored first in a game, and they look to use that momentum throughout the day. 

Clark was on her A game throughout the night, working around some traffic in both the second and third innings to keep it a 1-0 affair. With that score still standing in the bottom of the third, Priscilla Villarreal Get the offense going again with a lead off single. Kresak would follow with a single up the middle, but was thrown out trying to advance the second on the play. The Cardinals would have a runner at third and two outs as Morgan stepped to the plate. She would line the ball right back up the middle, bringing home Villarreal and pushing the Cardinal advantage to 2-0. With a run of support on her side, Clark put together her first 1-2-3 inning of the day and after four innings of play the Cardinals were staked to their 2-0 advantage.

However, the golden knight bats wouldn't be held down for long As the team broke out in the top of the 5th. They would score four runs before being retired and flipped a two-run deficit into a two run advantage as Gannon led 4-2 heading to the bottom of the 5th. With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, Wheeling would put up their answer as Kresak started things with a single. Miller was up next, and picked up her first RBI of the season with a double that brought home Kresak and cut the deficit to 4-3. Morgan was up next and replaced Miller at second with an RBI double of her own that tied the game at 4-4. The four runs where the most scored in a single game by the Cardinals so far this season, as they got things back to even heading into the sixth inning. 

Once again and bats got started, they would not be stopped as they put up 8 runs over the next two innings, turning it into a 12-4 game heading into the bottom of the seventh. Clark's day came to an end in the top of the 6th as she finished throwing 5.2 innings allowing seven runs, three earned, on eight hits while walking two and striking out three.Taufahema, Kearstin Monday, and Jackie Cappers would Finish the final 1.1 innings, with Cappers making her season debut throwing 0.2 scoreless innings to round out the night. As they stepped in for their final at bats of the night, Miller would reach base with two out after being hit by a pitch. However, that was the final Cardinal base runner of the night as wheeling fell 12-4 to round out the double header.

Leaning away for the second game in a row for the Cardinals was Amber Morgan, who finished 3-4 with a double and two RBI on the night. It was her third straight multi-hit game, and gave her four total RBI between the two games on Friday. Chyla Miller added her first multi hit game of the season, finishing 2-3 with an RBI, a double, and two runs scored, while Tasiana Taufahema added the final RBI of the night. Ava Kresak had the final multi-hit game of the evening, finishing 2-4 with a run scored. 

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Sunday, March 2nd, when they kick off their 2025 spring training trip against The University of Bridgeport at 6:30 PM.