Wheeling, W. Va. – After earning a big split on Friday night, the Wheeling University Softball team (4-24, 1-5) looked to keep the momentum going against the University of Charleston on Saturday. The offense had a big showing, scoring 11 combined runs, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals dropped both halves of the doubleheader. They dropped a 5-3 seven-inning affair in game one, and forced extra innings in game two before falling 11-8 to round out the day.
Game One: Charleston 5, Wheeling 3
As they opened up the day, the Cardinals would turn to their ace Kaylin Shields and the freshman was rolling early on. She retired the first nine Golden Eagles that she faced on the day, getting two strikeouts during the run. She wouldn't allow her first base runner until the top of the fourth inning on a leadoff walk, and her first hit would result in the first run of the game on an RBI single. Later in the inning, the Golden Eagles would add to their lead with a two-run home run and the Cardinal bats would go back to work in the bottom of the fourth trailing 3-0. After being charged with the three runs in the top of the inning, it was Shields that would start the Cardinals' three-run rally in the bottom of that fourth inning.
She would step to the plate with no one on and two outs, and launched a solo home run over the left field wall. It was Shield's first collegiate home run, and got the Cardinals on the board in a 3-1 game. Chyla Miller would keep the rally going with a single, and Keke Warrix would bring her home with a double to left field, making it a 3-2 game. Aaliyah Walker would step in and brought home Warrix to round out the rally, tying the game at 3-3. That 3-3 score would remain through the top of the seventh inning, with Shields retiring the side 1-2-3 in both the fifth and sixth innings. However, in the top of the seventh, a two-run home run for Charleston gave them the two-run advantage and sent the game to the bottom of the seventh at 5-3.
The Cardinals would end up going 1-2-3 in that seventh inning, and the game would end with the final score of 5-3. It was another big day for Kaylin Shields, who finished throwing 7.0 innings allowing five runs on six hits while walking one and striking out six. She would also excel at the plate, getting the Cardinals on the board with a home run while going 1-3 at the plate. Keke Warrix would have the lone multi-hit game for the Cardinals, finishing 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. The final two Cardinal hits came from Aaliyah Walker, who finished 1-2 with a walk, while Chyla Miller added a 1-3 day with a run scored. The offense looked to continue their offensive success heading into game two.
Game Two: Charleston 11, Wheeling 8 (8 Inn.)
In game two of the day, both offenses went on the attack early, building off the momentum they built in game one. It would be the Golden Eagles that got things started, tacking on three runs in the top of the first, but the Cardinals were quick to answer in their half of the inning. After a pair of groundouts to start the bottom of the first, Amber Morgan would get on base with a two-out single. Kaylin Shields would draw a walk and an errant throw would allow Morgan to score all the way from second to make it a 3-1 game. With Shields standing at third after the error, Maria Clark would bring her home with a single to get the Cardinals back to within one at 3-2. With one on and two-outs, Madison Kay would step in and deliver a two-out two-run home run that gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead after a wild first inning.
Charleston would get the run back in their half of the second, but the Cardinals had their own response ready in the bottom of the second. Denise Carrillo would get things started with a one-out single and a fielder's choice would see Ava Kresak replace her at first base. Kresak was able to steal second and would come home on an RBI single by Chyla Miller that made it a 5-4 Cardinal lead. Clark, who came in relief was able to hold the Golden Eagles off the board in the top of the third, and the Cardinal expanded their lead in the bottom half of the inning. Clark would get things started with a one-out walk and a Madison Kay single put runners at first and second with one out.
Keke Warrix would lace a pitch down the right field line and brought home Clark to make it a 6-4 Cardinal lead. The Cardinals would load the bases with Aaliyah Walker being hit by a pitch, and Ava Kresak would bring home the second run of the inning with a hit by pitch of her own to make it a 7-4 Wheeling advantage after three innings. The University of Charleston would tie the game once again with three runs in the top of the fourth, and the Cardinals would once again look for a response. They got just that in the bottom of the inning, with Amber Morgan reaching on a one-out single. A sacrifice bunt for Shields moved Morgan to scoring position and Kay brought home Morgan with an RBI single as the Cardinals took an 8-7 lead.
The scoring frenzy continued, with Charleston getting on the board in the top of the fifth, tying the game at 8-8, and that is where it would stay heading into extra innings. In the top of the eigth, Charleston would get the advantage with a three-run home run, that had the Golden Eagles leading 11-8. The Cardinals would look for a response in the bottom half of the inning, but they would end up going 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth, bringing the game to its final score of 11-8. Despite the loss, the Cardinals showed that they can compete with one of the top teams in the conference and the region throughout the day.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Madison Kay, who finished a perfect 4-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. IT was a career-day for the sophomore as she helped spark several of the Cardinal runs on the day. Maria Clark and Keke Warrix would each pick up multi-hit games, with Clark going 2-4 with an RBI and Warrix going 2-4 with an RBI. Amber Morgan would have the final multi-hit effort, finishing 2-5 with a pair of runs scored, while Ava Kresak and Chyla Miller each added an RBI on the day.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Wednesday, March 26th, when they host West Liberty in doubleheader action with first pitch at 3 PM.
