Pittsburgh, PA – After a grueling non-conference schedule to start the season, the Wheeling University Softball team (3-17, 0-2) headed an hour up I-79 to kick-off their Mountain East Conference (MEC) schedule against the newest MEC foe Point Park. IT was a pair of close games, with both being decided by two runs or less, but in the end the Cardinals would be swept by the Pioneers. Wheeling fell 3-1 in the opening matchup of the day, before falling 3-2 in extra innings in the second half of the doubleheader. 

Game One: Wheeling 3, Point Park 1 

After an hour delay to the day's proceedings due to weather, the Cardinals and Pioneers got started in game two with a pitcher's duel leading the way. Kaylin Shields would take the circle for the Cardinals and continued her strong start to the season. She would allow a walk in the bottom of the first, followed by a double in the bottom of the second and a walk in the third. However, she would strand the runner on base each time and the game would sit tied at 0-0 after three innings of play. However, Jaylyn Mullenax would have the same success, allowing her lone base runner on a two-out triple in the bottom of the third, but the Cardinal's offense would break through for the first run of the game in the top of the fourth. 

Shields would help herself at the plate, starting the inning with a single, and was pinch ran for by Keke Warrix. Warrix would steal second base and a ground-out would advance the runner to third and brought up Brooklyn Sanders with a runner at third and one out. Sanders would do the job, hitting the ball on the ground and bringing home Warrix to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. With the lead on her side, Sheilds settled in with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth, and stranded a pair of runners on first in the bottom of the sixth. Wheeling would try to add on in the top of the seventh, getting a runner to second after a one-out single by Grace Mummery, but the game would remain 1-0 in favor of the Cardinals heading to the bottom of the seventh. Shields would look to finish out the game, but Point Park would strike for all three of their runs in that seventh inning, as they picked up a 3-2 walk-off win that ended the day. 

Despite taking the loss, it was another strong performance for Shields, who finished throwing 7.0 innings allowing three unearned runs on four hits, while walking four and striking out six. Brooklyn Sanders led the offensive effort, finishing 1-3 with an RBI on the day. Kaylin Shields, Amber Morgan, Denise Carrillo, and Grace Mummery each added a 1-3 day, while Chyla Miller picked up the final Cardinal hit, finishing 1-2. As they headed into game two, the Cardinals would look to take one back as they tried to earn a split against the Pioneers. 

Game Two: Point Park 3, Wheeling 2 

In the second game of the day, the Cardinals would send Kearstin Monday to the circle and the Pioneers would get the first tally of the day with a run in the bottom of the first. However, the Cardinals would answer in their half of the second with Keke Warrix reaching on a two-out walk. She used her speed to get into scoring position with a stolen base, and Priscilla Villareal would bring her home with an RBI single. With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, Point Park would put runners on first and second with one out before making the call to the bullpen to bring in Maria Clark. Clark would clean up the inning and kept Wheeling in the game throughout the day. She would concede a run in the bottom of the third and Point Park would take a 2-1 lead. 

The score would remain a 2-1 Point Park lead until the Cardinals broke through once again in the top of the sixth. With one out, Brooklyn Sanders would get herself into scoring position and Grace Mummery would pinch run. Two batters later, Chyla Miller stepped in with two outs and a runner in scoring position and delivered with a two-out RBI triple that brought home Mummery and tied things at 2-2. Both teams would go 1-2-3 in their halves of the seventh and the game would be sent to extra innings. Clark would continue to toe the circle for the Cardinals in the bottom of the eighth, but Point Park would push across the final run to earn their second walk-off win of the day, this time a 3-2 victory. 

Clark was a star out of the bullpen for the Cardinals, throwing 6.0 innings allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out two. Chyla Miller and Priscilla Villareal would each drive in runs on the day, with each batter finishing 1-3 at the plate. Brooklyn Sanders had the lone multi-hit game of the day, finishing 2-3, while Denise Carrillo and Amber Morgan picked up the final two hits of the day. 

The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Sunday, March 16th, when they take on Salem in doubleheader action at 1 PM. You can watch the games live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.