Wheeling, W. Va. - After playing their first 24 games at either the Highlands Sports Complex or on the road, the Wheeling University Softball team (4-22, 1-3) opened the JB Chambers I-470 Complex on Friday night. It was a walk off Grand slam that was the story of the night, as the Cardinals earn a split with West Virginia state. Game one featured the heroics with Wheeling taking down the Yellow Jackets 6-3, and West Virginia state got one back with a 6-5 game two win.
Game One: Wheeling 6, West Virginia State 3
After two West Virginia State runs in the top of the first, the Cardinals never had a lead as they headed into their final at-bats in the bottom of the seventh. They had gotten the game to a one-run affair, trailing 3-2, and were looking to push at least one run across to keep the game alive. The Cardinals would start strong as Maria Clark reached on a single, and was pinch ran for by Grace Mummery. Kaylin Shields would take advantage of a Yellow Jacket error to put two on, and Keke Warrix would single to load the bases with nobody out. Head Coach Mallory Chapman would make a call to the bench, bringing in freshman Tasiana Taufahema, who was looking for her first hit since February 28th against Gannon.
Taufahema would take the first few pitches and, with a 1-1 count, she would find her swing on a pitch middle in. She sent the ball soaring over the left-center field wall for a walk-off grand slam to give the Cardinals the win. Her teammates were waiting to mob her at home plate and both cheers and tears were shared as the Cardinals picked up their first MEC win of the season. The walk-off Grand slam was Taufahema's first Collegiate home run as she got her confidence back at the plate. She would finish 1 - 1 with the Grand slam and four RBIs, as she earned her team a big momentum win. The other two RBI on the day came from Brooklyn Sanders, who finished 1-3, and Denise Carrillo, who finished 1-1 with a triple.
Kaylin Shields would get the start for the Cardinals and, after allowing two early runs in the top of the first would settle in. She threw up three straight zeros from the second to third innings, and the offense would get her her first run in the bottom of the fourth. Chyla Miller would be hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a groundout. She then used her legs to advance 60 feet with a stolen base, bringing up Sanders with a runner at third and one out. The designated player would come through with an RBI single up the middle to score Miller and make it a 2-1 game. That would remain the score heading into the top of the fifth, but West Virginia state would add a run in their half to push the lead to 3-1.
Wheeling was back to the bat racks in the bottom of the fifth with Keke Warrix starting things with a single. A wild pinch would move her to second base and two batters later she moved to the Third on another wild pitch. Denise Carrillo stepped in the Box and laid down a suicide squeeze to bring home Warrix and make it a 3-2 game. Shields retook the circle in a one-run game and did her part with back to back scoreless innings. She would earn the win thanks to the walk off throwing 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out three. After The dramatics of game one, Cardinals wanted to keep momentum going as they headed into game two looking for the sweep.
Game Two: West Virginia State 6, Wheeling 5
After walking things off in game one, Wheeling looked to keep the momentum going in game two. Maria Clark would get the start and just like game one, West Virginia state would strike early with a run in the top of the first. However, the Cardinals were quick to respond with Ava Kresak singling to start the home half of the first. Chyla Miller would lay down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to scoring position, and Amber Morgan followed with a single that put runners at first and third with one out. Morgan would then steal second and Brooklyn Sanders would bring home the first Cardinal run with an RBI groundout. Morgan moved to 3rd on the play and used her Wheels to give Wheeling the lead. Clark would ground a ball just passed the pitcher's circle and Morgan came racing home to beat the throw and give Wheeling a 2-1 lead.
That lead was erased in the top of the second as West Virginia state answered with another run. The score would remain tied at 2-2 until the bottom of the Third. Morgan would be the one to get things started with a single and once again showed off her speed taking second base. A wild pitch would move her to Third before she came home on another fielder's choice. This time, it was Sanders who hit the ground ball to the middle of the infield and Morgan once again beat the throw to give Wheeling a 3-2 lead. Clark would add a single and Tasiana Taufahema reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with two outs. Kaylin Shields would pick up a two out RBI single scoring Sanders and pushing Wheeling's lead to 4-2. Clark would throw a scoreless top of the fourth before giving up two runs in the fifth to tie things at 4-4.
She would exit in that top of the fifth inning, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits while walking four. Shields would inherit a bases loaded situation with two outs and picked up her pitcher with a big strikeout. West Virginia state would take the lead the next inning, scoring two runs and the Cardinals found themselves trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the 6th. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Morgan got things started with a two out single. A passed ball would move Morgan to second and another passed ball would move Morgan to Third and completed a four pitch walk of Sanders. Morgan took the opportunity as the ball was bouncing around to score all the way from second to make it a 6-5 game. That would be the score heading into the bottom of the 7th, but no heroics were to be had in game two as the Cardinals fell 6-5.
Leading the way for Wheeling was Amber Morgan who finished 3-4 with three runs scored. Each time she got on base, Morgan caused chaos with her speed helping the Cardinals battle back throughout the night. Brooklyn Sanders would finish with a pair of RBIs while Maria Clark picked up the other multi-hit game going 2-4 with an RBI. The final Cardinal RBI came from Kaylin Shields, who finished 1-4 with an RBI.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Saturday, March 22nd, when they take on the University of Charleston with first pitch at 2 PM. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
