Wheeling, W. Va. – Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division play kicked off at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex on Saturday as the Wheeling University Softball team (4-28, 1-8) welcomed in Fairmont State. After falling in a close 4-3 Affair in game one, the Cardinals would end the day with an 8-1 game 2 loss completing the sweep. It was a big day for Madison Kay, who drove in three of her team's four runs on the day, but she could not lead them to victory.
Game One: Fairmont State 4, Wheeling 3
Game one would feature a classic pitcher's duel as Wheeling's Kaylin Shields battled Fairmont State's Caitlin Morey. Both pitchers would work through some traffic on the base paths early on, but both kept the opposition off the scoreboard with the score sitting at 0-0 after three innings of play. However, in the top of the fourth, the Falcons would take advantage of a Cardinal error and tallied the first run of the day. Wheeling headed into the bottom half of the inning looking to respond and Amber Morgan would get things started with a double. She would move up to third two batters later on an infield single by Shields, and Shields would then steal second to put two in scoring position with one out. Keke Warrix would pick up the Cardinal's first RBI with a single that scored Morgan and tied things at 1-1.
One inning later, the Cardinals would take the lead after Denise Carrillo started the inning with a single. Chyla Miller joined her with a one-out single and Morgan would load the bases with her second hit of the day. Madison Kay stepped in with the bases loaded and one out. She would single through the left side of the infield and brought home both Carrillo and Miller to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. Shields was able to keep the Falcons off the board in the top of the sixth, but Fairmont State broke through with four runs in the top of the seventh to flip the script and make it a 4-3 Fairmont State lead. Shields would get the final out and finished her seven innings allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits while walking five and striking out six.
The Cardinals would have one more shot in the bottom of the seventh and created havoc early. Kresak would start the inning with a single and immediately got into scoring position with a stolen base. Miller would lay down a sacrifice bunt to get her to third with one out, but that would be as far as she would go. A pair of groundouts would end the day as Morgan and Kay both grounded out, and the Cardinals would fall by the final score of 4-3.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Amber Morgan, who finished 3-4 with a double and a run scored. It was her third three-hit game of the season as she continues to be a force in the #3 spot. Madison Kay would account for two of the Cardinal's three RBI on the day, finishing 1-4 with a single. The final RBI of the day would come from Keke Warrix, who finished 1-3 with a single and an RBI. The Cardinals would look to bounce back and earn a split as they entered game two.
Game Two: Fairmont State 8, Wheeling 1
Tasiana Taufahema got the game two start for the Cardinals and started strong with a 1-2-3 top of the first. Her offense would reward her offense would reward her in the bottom half when Ava Kresak started things with a single. She would move up on a sacrifice bunt by Chyla Miller and two batters later it was Madison Kay who stepped in with a runner in scoring position and two outs. She was single on a hard ground ball up the middle and scored Kresak to give the Cardinals and early 1-0 lead. However, Fairmont State would answer back in the top of the second, scoring a pair of runs that flipped the score and gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead. They would add three more in the top of the third spelling the end of Taufahema's day.
The Freshman would throw 2.2 innings allowing five runs, two earned, on three hits while striking out two batters. Maria Clark would finish the inning for the Cardinals and was able to play stopped over the next three innings. Wheeling would get runners on in each of those three innings, including loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth but they just couldn't push a run across. Fairmont State would put the nail in the coffin in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs that pushed their advantage to 8-1. That score would remain in the bottom of the seventh as Kresak tried to spark her team with a one out single. It was her third hit of the day and the final hit for the Cardinals as they fell to Fairmont State 8-1.
It was Ava Kresak who led the Cardinals from that leadoff spot, finishing 3-4 with a run scored. All three hits we're singles for Kresak as she used her speed to her advantage. Madison Kay would account for the lone Cardinal RBI on the day, finishing 1-3 with an RBI. Kaylin Shields, Amber Morgan, and Chyla Miller would each pick up hits to round out the Cardinal's offensive effort.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Sunday, March 30th when they host Frostburg State at noon.
