Wheeling, W. Va. - In The final non-conference doubleheader of the season, the Wheeling University Softball team (11-39, 7-17) welcomed in Salem University. It was a night of highs and lows for the Cardinals as they split their doubleheader with the Tigers, rounding out the night in walk-off fashion. The Cardinals would fall 9-3 in a game one battle before finishing the day with walk-off 4-3 win in game two to earn them the split of the doubleheader and gave them momentum heading into a big conference doubleheader with Point Park on Sunday.
Game One: Salem 9, Wheeling 3
After a strong weekend in conference play, the Cardinals would turn to Maria Clark in game one and she got started strong allowing just one base runner. That runner was cut down by her catcher Denise Carrillo and the two teams would sit scoreless after one inning of play. Salem would be the team to strike first, scoring three runs in the top of the second, and would expand that lead by three more in the top of the fourth to put them ahead 6-0. Meanwhile, Tigers starter Kendall Lemely allowed one base runner via a walk through the first three innings before the Cardinals broke through in the top of the fourth.
It would be Amber Morgan who got her team going with a lead-off double to left to start the fourth and record their first hit of the game. With one out, Maria Clark would move the runner to third with a groundout and Kaylin Shields would bring her home with an RBI single that made it a 6-1 game. Salem would get that run back and add another in a two-run top of the fifth before the Cardinals responded once again in the bottom half. Grace Mummery would draw a walk to start the inning and was replaced by Kearstin Monday on a Fielder's Choice. A Chyla Miller groundout would move the runner to second and Ava Kresak would step in with a runner in scoring position and one out. She came through with an RBI double and the Cardinals got it to an 8-2 score after five innings of play.
Maria Clark would come out of the game during the top of the fifth, finishing 4.0 innings allowing six runs, five earned, on six hits while walking three and striking out one. Monday would take over, and allowed the two runs in the fifth before settling in with a scoreless top of the sixth. The Tigers tagged her for her final run in the top of the seventh, bringing her night to a close after throwing 3.0 innings allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits while walking one and striking out two. The Cardinals had one more fight left in them in the top of the seventh as Keke Warrix got things started with a leadoff walk. She used her speed to get into scoring position with a stolen base and a groundout moved her to third with one out. Kearstin Monday would lift a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Warrix and made it a 9-3 game. However, that's as close as the Cardinals would get as they fell by the final score of 9-3.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Ava Kresak at the top of the lineup, who finished 1-3 with a double and an RBI. She was one of three players to drive in a run on the day, with Kaylin Shields and Kearstin Monday each finishing with an RBI on the day. Amber Morgan was the lone Cardinal to reach base twice on the day, finishing 1-2 with a walk and a double in the effort. The Cardinals would come back in day two and look to split the doubleheader in game two.
Game Two: Wheeling 4, Salem 3
The Cardinals turned to Kaylin Shields in the second game of the doubleheader and she was dominant in the circle throughout the day. She gave up one run in the top of the second, but held the Tigers scoreless in five of the first six innings of the game. She added a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first and worked her way around traffic throughout the night. Their biggest threat would come in the top of the fifth, when they got runners to second and third with one out and, as she did throughout the night, she would use the strikeout to minimize the damage. She set a new career-high with 10 strikeouts over her seven innings of work, and in the bottom half of the inning, the Cardinals would come to the plate and get her the run support she needed.
With one out, Chyla Miller would work a walk and turned the lineup over for Ava Kresak. She would come through, splitting the gap in right center field and motoring all the way to third for an RBI triple that brought home Miller and made it a 1-1 game. Amber Morgan would shoot a ground ball to short on the next play that was booted and gave the Cardinals their first lead of the day. With the lead on her side, Shields came back out for the top of the sixth and while Salem was able to get a runner to third, it was another strikeout that would get her out of a jam. In the bottom of the sixth, Keke Warrix would start the inning with a single and used her speed to steal her way into scoring position. A groundout would move her to third and Aaliyah Walker would bring her home with a sacrifice fly that pushed the Cardinal lead to 3-1 heading into the top of the seventh. Shields would once again take the circle and after getting the first out, Salem would strike for the two runs necessary to tie the game.
Shields would head back into the dugout after throwing 7.0 strong innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits while walking six and striking out 11. After the first out of the inning was recorded, Brooklyn Sanders would get things started with a double and was pinch run for by Denise Carrillo. Maria Clark would lay down a sacrifice bunt that moved the runner to third and it brought Shields to the plate with the winning run standing 60-feet away. Shields would come through with a walk-off RBI double to left-center field and the Cardinals picked up their third walk-off hit of the season. It was Shield's first game winner as she wrapped up an all around strong day for the Cardinal freshman to earn the 4-3 split of the day.
Shields would lead the way at the plate as well, finishing 2-4 with an RBI, finishing with the walk-off hit in the effort. She was one of two Cardinals to finish with multiple hits on the day, with Brooklyn Sanders also finishing 2-4 on the night. Ava Kresak added a 1-3 day with an RBI triple on the day while Aaliyah Walker went 0-1, but drove in a big insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Sunday, April 27th, when they wrap up the regular season against Point Park with first pitch at 2 PM.
