Melbourne, FL. – The first half of the Wheeling University Softball team's (2-10, 0-0) annual spring training trip wrapped up on Tuesday with a split doubleheader. Wheeling would drop both halves of the tilt on the day, bringing their record for the trip to 2-4. In the morning game, the Cardinals fell to Saginaw Valley 12-2 before coming back in the afternoon and falling to Walsh 6-1.
Game One: Saginaw Valley 12, Wheeling 2
After an early wrap up Monday, the Cardinals were back on the field Tuesday morning as they opened up the day against Saginaw Valley. After a strong start against Davenport on Sunday, the Cardinals handed the ball to Kaylin Shields for her third start of the trip. Saginaw Valley got to her for two runs in the bottom of the first, but Shields would keep it Right there with 1-2-3 bottom of the second. The Cardinal offense would respond in the top half of the third after Priscilla Villarreal was hit by a pitch to start the inning. She would be replaced at first by Grace Mummery After a fielder's choice, and with two outs the Cardinal lineup turned over. Ava Kresak would step in and push across the first Cardinal run it the game with a triple that brought home Mummery.
The next batter was Chyla Miller, who used her legs to reach on an error and Kresak scored to make it a 2-2 game. Saginaw Valley got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning, before putting up a nine-spo in the bottom of the fourth. It spelled the end of Shields's day as she lasted 3.1 innings, allowing eight runs, four earned, on seven hits while striking out three. Tasiana Taufahema would come on to get the final two out to the inning, but the damage had already been done. Down to their final out, the Cardinals continued to battle with Kresak drawing a walk, while Miller and Morgan hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. In the end it would be a strikeout that would end the Cardinals day as they fell 12-2.
It was a big day for the top four hitters in the Cardinal lineup with each of them collecting one hit on the day. Ava Kresak would lead the group, going 1-2 with a triple, and RBI, and a run scored. Chyla Miller, Amber Morgan, and Maria Clark what all pick up hits, all singles, to round out the Cardinals offensive effort. The Wheeling University Softball Team would have a break between game one and game two and look to get back on track in the second half of their doubleheader.
Game Two: Walsh 6, Wheeling 1
In the second half of their day three action, the Cardinals would take on regional opponent Walsh As they looked to bounce back. They sent their veteran Maria Clark to the circle, but the Cavaliers would strike early. Walsh would score three runs in the bottom of the first to make it a 3-0 game after one. With a runner and scoring position and no one out in the bottom of the second, things looked like they would get away early, but Kearstin Monday stepped in relief and was able to shut down the attack. After getting runners on in each of the first two innings, Wheeling would finally break through in the top of the third. Keke Warrix would get things started with a single and quickly got herself into scoring position by advancing on a passed ball.
Ava Kresak followed her with a walk and Kylea Chapple followed her by reaching on an error that would load the bases with nobody out. Amber Morgan stepped in and reached on a feilder's choice, with Chapple being eliminated at second, but Warrix would come home to score and made it a 3-1 game. While Monday was able to stop the attack early, Walsh continued to add on, racking on a run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 6-1 game. Monday would exit during the bottom of the sixth, and finished her day throwing 4.0 innings and allowing three runs in seven hits while walking three and striking out three. Jackie Cappers would come on and stop the damage in the sixth, and the Cardinals would get a runner on second in the top of the second. However, it would end there as Wheeling fell 6-1 to round out the day.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Amber Morgan, who finished 2-4 while driving in the lone Cardinal run of the day. For Morgan, it was her fourth multi-hit effort of the season as she continues to lead the Cardinals in the middle of the lineup. Denise Carillo would get her first multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-3, while KeKe Warrix rounded out the multi-hit game efforts, finishing 2-2 with a run scored. Brooklyn Sanders would get the final Cardinal hit of the day, finishing 1-4 in the effort.
After an off day on Wednesday, the Wheeling University Softball team will return to action on Thursday, March 6th, when they take on Flagler College in doubleheader action with first pitch at 3 PM.
