Wheeling, W. Va—The Wheeling University Softball team (3-15) (0-0) recently returned from its spring break trip to Melbourne, Florida, and is getting acclimated to the northern weather once more. With a split against Walsh, the Cardinals move on to play their first Mountain East Conference matchup of the season tomorrow against Point Park. Then, they will return to non-conference play with a familiar opponent in Salem the following day.
Wheeling picked up a win in its latest contest against Walsh University when it won 3-0 in game one of the doubleheaders on the 12th. With two Cardinals walked and on base, Maria Clark brought them home in the first for the early lead. The Cardinals were held off the scoresheet until the top of the sixth when Katelyn Kozlowski drew a walk, and Denise Carillo added the insurance marker with a groundout RBI to secure the 3-0 win for Wheeling.
Game two was a different story. While the Cardinals scored first in the top of the first, the Cavaliers were able to tie it up in the next inning. Wheeling looked in the top of the 5th when it scored three runs to go up 4-2, but Walsh answered back, adding four runs in the bottom of the same inning and then another six in the sixth inning for a 12-4 Cavalier win.
Kaitlyn Shields got the nod to start both games for the Cardinals. In game one, she pitched all seven innings while only allowing four hits, two walks, and adding seven strikeouts. She started the first game off sitting the Cavalier hitters down to set the tone for the rest of the game. Despite the loss in game two, Shields still performed well in the circle and the box. She pitched 6.1 innings and struck out six batters. With her three appearances in the batter's box, she managed two hits and crossed the plate once.
Maria Clark produced offense for the Cardinals in both matches against the Cavaliers, with game one being her best showing. She went 2-4 at the plate and finished with two RBIs. The two runners batted in were both in the first inning and would allow the Cardinals to hold the lead until they added another in the sixth. In game two, she went 1-3 and was still able to bring home a runner with a double in the top of the fifth.
Sophomore Amber Morgan has been named the Female Cardinal Highflyer of this Week with her consistent performance during the spring break trip. Morgan went 18-31 in six games and recorded a double, two triples, three RBIs, and five runs scored. She finished with multiple hits in four of those six games, which made her the easy choice for the award. In the previous meeting with Walsh, she went 3-4 and scored two runs across both games. Morgan leads the Cardinals in total hits with 30, eight RBIs, and leads the MEC with a .556 batting average.
Flying over the Steel City
Wheeling will face off against Point Park for the first time as conference foes tomorrow afternoon. The two have only met one other time all the back in 2017 in Clermont, Florida. The Cardinals shut the Pioneers out 4-0 in that meeting, but Point Park is looking to add a couple of wins to its side.
Gianna Welsh has been hot to start the season and has been the offensive leader for the Pioneers. The junior has picked up at least one hit in six of their last eight games. Welsh will bring her .400 batting average, 10 hits, nine RBIs, and one home run against the Cardinals, and she will be looking to add to those totals.
Scouting Salem
The following day will pin the Cardinals against the Tigers of Salem University. The two have squared off 11 times, and Wheeling leads the all-time series, 6-5. The last time the two met was last season on April 27th, 2024, when the Cards bested the Tigers 6-4. Chyla Miller would go 2-4, picking up three runs, an RBI, and a walk.
Salem has some weapons to work with and will attempt to use against its opposition. They boast a young pitching rotation led by sophomore Kendall Lemley. In 26.1 innings, she has struck out 17 batters, only given up 10 earned runs, and has a 1.37 WHIP.
The Details
The Wheeling University Softball team will travel to Pittsburgh, PA, to take on the Point Park Pioneers tomorrow, March 14th, 2025. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Fans can track the action live HERE.
The Cardinals will then continue the road trip when they travel to Salem, WV, on Saturday, March 15th, 2025. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m., and fans can access LiveStats HERE.
