Wheeling, W. Va. - As the regular season comes down to its final week of play, the Wheeling University Softball team (10-38, 7-17) looks to build momentum as they make one final push for a spot in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Softball tournament. The week begins on Thursday when the team plays its final non-conference doubleheader of the season when they host Salem University with first pitch at 4 PM. After being swept by the Tigers earlier this season, the Cardinals are looking to flip the script as they welcome them to the JB Chambers I-470 Complex.
Last time out, the Cardinals wrapped up their road trip with a split of their doubleheader against Frostburg State. Game one saw a terrific pitcher's duel, with the score sitting tied at 0-0 after seven innings of play. Both starters worked into extra innings, but it was the Cardinals who would break through for a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. The two runs were enough to hold off the Bobcats as they completed the shutout and earned their first win of the weekend. Game two began with another pitcher's duel, with neither team getting on the board until the bottom of the fourth inning. Frostburg State took the early lead, but the Cardinals would battle back with four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 advantage. However, the Bobcats came right back in the bottom half of the inning with five runs of their own and it was enough to earn the split of the weekend.
It was a big weekend both in the circle and at the plate for junior pitcher Maria Clark as she helped her team to the big game one victory. In the circle, the junior would toss eight shutout innings for the Cardinals, allowing just five hits while walking three and striking out four. It has continued a trend for the junior, who has allowed just one earned run over her past 15.2 innings of work. During that time, she has struck out six batters while walking just four. At the plate, she would come through in a key situation for the Cardinals in the top of the eighth in a scoreless game. She would beat out an infield single and singled home the winning run before a throwing error allowed a second run to score to build insurance. As they make the final playoff push, Clark looks to continue to take on that leadership role for her team on both sides of the ball.
Leading the offense throughout the season has been Amber Morgan, who holds the team's highest batting average at . 423 this season. She would get a hit in three of the four games over the weekend series, with her biggest performance coming in game two against the Bobcats. She would finish just 1-4 at the plate, but it was the biggest swing of the game as she sent a three-run home run over the left field wall. Morgan has gotten at least one hit in 37 of the team's 47 games this season and looks to continue to be a leader on that side of the ball. Chyla Miller rounded out the weekend with a big showing in the Frostburg State doubleheader, finishing 3-6 with a run scored. She served as a table-setter for the team and helped turn over the lineup at the bottom of the order.
Thursday will serve as the team's final non-conference doubleheader of the season before they head into their biggest weekend of the 2025 season. The Cardinals currently hold the #4 spot in the MEC North Division at 7-19, however, West Virginia Wesleyan, who holds the #5 seed in the South sits at 12-14. If this stays, the Bobcats would get in the tournament over the Cardinals. However, the Cardinals currently sit two games back of Point Park and can jump them in the conference standings with a sweep of the Sunday doubleheader. Point Park first takes on West Liberty and has a magic number of two, so if they sweep the Hilltoppers they clinch the #3 seed. However, if Point Park loses one of the two games against West Liberty, it will be the Cardinals holding the #3 seed if they sweep the Pioneers.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Tigers will be meeting for the 14th and 15th times in program history when they meet at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex. Wheeling has played well at home against the Tigers, going 1-1 compared to a 4-6 record when they travel to Salem. It has been a high scoring overall series, with Wheeling averaging 5.85 runs per game, but the Tigers have taken three of the last five games in the series.
Their last meeting came back on March 16th, 2025, when the Tigers swept a series in Salem by scores of 11-3 and 9-5. In game one, the Cardinals were led by Amber Morgan, who put together a 3-3 day with a run scored while Brooklyn Sanders finished 1-2 with an RBI. Maria Clark would lead the way going 2-2 with a home run and two RBI, while Keke Warrix added a 1-4 day with two RBI in the effort.
The Details
First pitch for Thursday's game is scheduled for 4 PM at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
