Wheeling, W. Va. – The final Mountain East Conference (MEC) Crossover weekend of the season kicked off Saturday for the Wheeling University Softball team (9-33, 6-12). They hosted West Virginia Wesleyan at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex in a pair of wild games, coming up with their second sweep of the season. Wheeling would walk it off in 10 innings with a 6-5 game one win, while winning a back and forth battle 7-6 in seven-innings in game two.
Game One: Wheeling 6, West Virginia Wesleyan 5 (10 Inn)
In game one, it was all about the starting pitching as Kaylin Shields took the circle for the Cardinals against the Bobcat's Kendall Stoffell. Shields conceded a run in the top of the first, but would follow with three straight zeros. The Cardinals were blanked through the first two innings, but broke through in the bottom of the third after Chyla Miller singled to start the inning. She stole second two batters later and Brooklyn Sanders would step in with two outs and a runner on second. She came through with an RBI single, and the Cardinals tied the game at 1-1 after three innings of play. With both pitchers settled in, that score would remain until the Bobcats grabbed a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, making it a 3-1 West Virginia Wesleyan lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Priscilla Villarreal would get things started with a leadoff double. She would be pinch ran for by Aaliyah Walker, who moved to third on a groundout. Amber Morgan would pick up her runner with a sacrifice fly and the Cardinals closed the gap, making it a 3-2 game. The Bobcats pushed that lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh and the Cardinals would have to fight in their final at-bats. Singles by Maria Clark and Keke Warrix would start the inning and a sacrifice bunt by Villarreal moved both runners to scoring position. Miller would single to load the bases and it would be Amber Morgan who tied the game with a two-run double that made it a 4-4 game. The Cardinals still had two runners in scoring position, but stranded them there and the game would head to extra innings.
Neither team would get on the board in the eighth or ninth innings, but in the top of the 10th, West Virginia Wesleyan brought a run home to make it 5-4. The Cardinals would come to bat in the bottom of the inning and, with the automatic runner placed in second, Sanders laid down a sacrifice bunt to get the runner to third. Kaylin Shields would be the one to bring her home on an RBI single and the game was tied once again at 5-5. Shields was replaced at first by Ava Kresak on a fielder's choice and Clark singled to put two on with two outs. Keke Warrix stepped in and ended the game with a clutch two-out RBI double to walk-off the Bobcats 6-5, earning their fifth conference victory of the season.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was their pitcher Kaylin Shields, who threw all 10 innings giving up five runs, four earned, on 10 hits while walking 3 and striking out seven. At the plate, it was Keke Warrix to played hero going 2-5 including the walk-off double. Amber Morgan would account for half her team's offense, finishing 1-5 with three RBI on the day. In total, four different Cardinals picked up multiple hits in the effort as Wheeling looked for the sweep in game two.
Game Two: Wheeling 7, West Virginia Wesleyan 6
After getting some clutch hits at the end of game 1, Wheeling would have to play catch up in game 2. West Virginia Wesleyan would score solo runs in the top of the first and top of the Third to take a 2-0 lead. After giving up the two early runs, Maria Clark would settle in putting up back-to-back zeros in the 4th and 5th innings. Her team would reward her in the bottom of the fifth, as Wheeling still found themselves behind 2-0. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Ava Kresak would single and like followed with a double to bed runners at second and third. After walking off in game one, Keke Warrix came through again tying the game with a double. Laney Hatridge would draw a walk and Chyla Miller single to load the bases still with one out.
A fielder's choice would cut down the runner at home plate before Grace Mummery stuck in with the big hit. She cleared the bases with a three RBI double, giving Wheeling the first lead of the day at 5-2. Brooklyn Sanders drove in the final run of the inning with a single and the Cardinals were riding High into the top of the sixth with a 6-2 lead. However, that lead was quickly wiped away as the Bobcats put up four runs in the top of the sixth. Wheeling would answer in the bottom half after Kresak reached on an error. A sacrifice bun moved her to second and with two outs Head Coach Mallory Chapman would call on Tasiana Taufahema to pinch hit. The Freshman came through with an RBI double to put the Cardinals on top 7 - 6. Kaylin Shields wait come on to close things out, having a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to close out the sweep.
The leader for the Cardinals was the one to break things open in the 6th as Grace Mummery finished 1-3 with a double and three RBI on the day. The game winning hit was brought in by Tasiana Taufahema, who finished 1-1 with a double and an RBI. Keke Warrix what round out the big day at the plate, finishing 1-3 with a double and two RBI. Maria Clark would get the start in the circle throwing 6.0 innings , allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits while striking out three. Kaylin Shields picked up her first save of the season with a 1-2-3 seventh, while allowing one hit and striking out a batter.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action today when they take on Davis & Elkins with first pitch at noon.
