North Canton, OH. – The Wheeling University Softball team (3-15, 0-0) wrapped up their preseason non-conference schedule with a road doubleheader against Walsh. The Cardinals got strong pitching in game one as they earned a split of the day. The Cardinals earned a shutout victory in game one 3-0 before falling in six innings in game two in a 12-4 loss to the Cavaliers.
Game One: Wheeling 3, Walsh 0
In game one, it was freshman Kaylin Shields who paced the Cardinal success. The freshman, who broke out during the spring trip, would put together her best start of the season, going 7.0 innings allowing just four hits while walking two and striking out seven. After getting two early runs of support, Sheilds would allow the first batter in the bottom of the first to reach on a walk. However, she was able to strand the runner in scoring position and equaled that feat in both the second and third innings. In the bottom of the fourth, she would settle into a groove with her first 1-2-3 inning and, after allowing a leadoff single in the fifth faced just three batters. The Cardinals got her a key insurance run in the top of the sixth inning and that was more than enough for the Cardinal pitcher as she finished out the shutout performance.
She was supported right away by her offense, with the Cardinals putting a pair of runs on the board in the top of the first. Ava Kresak would walk to start the inning and a sacrifice bunt from Keke Warrix would move her to second with one out. Amber Morgan would then draw a walk to put runners at first and second with one away. Brooklyn Sanders would then step in and grounded out to third to put two in scoring position for Maria Clark. Clark would step in and deliver, lining an RBI single that scored Kresak and Morgan, giving the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals were staked to a 2-0 lead after 0.5 innings, but needed to add some insurance late. Walsh would get a similarly strong start from pitcher Jaelyn Peterson, who gave up just the two runs over 4.0 innings of work and the Cardinals could not find their way onto the scoreboard.
It wasn't until the top of the sixth inning when the Cardinals would get that insurance, with a Katelyn Kozlowski walk starting the inning. She was able to steal second and would move up to third on a groundout. Denise Carrillo would step in with a runner on third and one out and she would deliver with an RBI groundout that brought home Klozowski for a crucial third run for the Cardinals. With a three-run lead on her side, Shields would strike out two of the three batters she would face in the inning, while allowing a two out single. She would end the game with a groundout and the Cardinals secured the first game win at 3-0. It was the first time this season that the Cardinals won the first half of a doubleheader, behind a strong start.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Maria Clark, who had a two-hit, two-RBI day to lead Wheeling to the win. Clark would finish 2-4 on the day, with her biggest hit being the two-RBI single in the top of the first, as she accounted for half her Cardinal offense on the day. The other two hits would come from Chyla Miller, who went 1-3, and Amber Morgan, who finished 1-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored. Denise Carrillo would drive in the final run for the Cardinals, finishing 0-3 with an RBI. The Cardinals would head into game two of the day looking for their first sweep of the season.
Game Two: Walsh 12, Wheeling 4
As they did in game one, the Cardinals would once again strike for an early run in the top of the first inning in game two. After a groundout to start the inning, Kaylin Sheilds would get things started at the plate with a single and Amber Morgan walked to put two on and one out. Brooklyn Sanders would then reach on an error and advanced to second as Shields came around to score and give Wheeling a 1-0 lead. As she did in game one, Kaylin Shields would get the start once again and kept her scoreless streak going into the second game. She threw a scoreless bottom of the first, before Walsh broke through for their first run in the bottom of the second. The Cavaliers would take their first lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth and Wheeling found themselves down 2-1.
The Cardinals rebounded in the top of the fifth, putting up three runs in the top of the fifth as the Cardinals retook the lead. Maria Clark would step up with the big hit in the inning, a double that brought home Morgan. The Cardinals would get two more runs home in the inning and the Cardinals would retake the lead at 4-2. Walsh would be back in the bottom of the fifth inning, retaking the lead with a four spot, and added six more runs in the bottom of the sixth to walk-off the game at 12-4. Shields would end up throwing 5.1 innings in game two, allowing 10 runs, five earned, on 13 hits while striking out six batters. Kearstin Monday would finish out the day, throwing 0.1 innings allowing two unearned runs on two hits while walking one and striking out one.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Maria Clark, who finished 1-3 with an RBI in the effort to round out a big day. She would have the only extra-base hit of the day for the Cardinals, and she would drive in three of the Cardinal's seven runs on the day. Brooklyn Sanders would add the other two RBI in the effort, finishing 0-2 with the pair of RBI. Shields would also help herself at the plate in the effort, finishing 1-3, while Amber Morgan added a 2-2 mark with a run scored.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Saturday, March 15th, when they start MEC play against Point Park with first pitch at 1 PM.
