Wheeling, W. Va. - As they take the field on Sunday, the Wheeling University Softball team (11-39, 7-17) has the chance to do something that hasn't been done since the 2018 season. They welcome Point Park to the JB Chambers I-470 Complex for their 2025 Regular season finale with first pitch at 2 PM. If the Cardinals are able to sweep the Pioneers, they will guarantee themselves the #3 seed in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division, securing their spot for the 2025 MEC Softball Tournament.
Wheeling opened their weekend action on Thursday when they hosted Salem for their final non-conference doubleheader of the season. In game one, the Tigers jumped on the Cardinals early, scoring three in the second and three more in the fourth inning as they built a 6-0 lead. The Cardinals would battle back with solo runs in the third and fourth as well as a run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals fell 9-3. In game two, it was a superb pitching performance that led the way as Salem struck first, but was held scoreless until the top of the seventh. The Cardinals had a 3-1 lead that was blown in that top of the seventh, but the Cardinals came back for their third walk-off win of the season in the bottom of the inning to pick up the 4-3 win.
Propelling the Cardinals to victory was Kaylin Shields, who not only pitched the complete-game but also delivered the walk-off win. Shields would allow just one Tiger run over the first six innings, but conceded two runs in the top of the seventh to end her outing. She would finish the day throwing 7.0 innings allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits while walking six and striking out a career-high 11 batters. After giving up the two runs in the top of the seventh, Shields came to the plate with the winning run standing 60-feet away. She delivered with an RBI double that split the right-center field gap and clinched the third walk-off win of the season for the Cardinals. It wrapped up a day at the plate that saw the freshman go 2-4 with the RBI double to help lead her team to a crucial victory.
After falling behind 1-0 early, it was Ava Kresak at the top of the lineup that got the Cardinal offense going. She would follow a leadoff single with an RBI triple that brought home the Cardinal's first run of the game. Kresak would finish 1-3 with the triple and the RBI as she continues her success at the top of the lineup. She sits second on the team with a .296 batting average this season, and finished the doubleheader with Salem going 2-6 with a double, a triple, and two RBI. The Cardinals would also get a pair of clutch at-bats off their bench, with both Kearstin Monday and Aaliyah Walker coming through in clutch situations. Both would enter the lineup late in the game and delivered a sacrifice fly to add insurance to the scoreboard.
As they enter their final MEC Doubleheader of the season, the Cardinals are looking to claim a spot in the MEC Tournament for the first time since 2018. The Cardinals currently hold the #5 seed in the MEC North Division and need to at least get to the #4 seed to claim their spot. In order to clinch their first playoff berth since 2018, the Cardinals need to earn at least a split of the doubleheader with Point Park to gain the #4 seed. If the Cardinals get the #4 seed, they are guaranteed a spot because they earned a sweep over West Virginia Wesleyan earlier this season. Wheeling will have home field advantage on their side, and are looking to end the season strong and earn themselves a trip to Salem, West Virginia for the 2025 MEC Tournament.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Pioneers are meeting for the fourth and fifth times in program history, with Point Park leading the all-time series at 2-1. It will be the first meeting between the two teams in Wheeling, with two of the previous three meeting coming at Point Park and the other being a neutral site matchup. The Cardinals are averaging 2.33 runs per game in the all-time series and are looking to grind out a victory in their season finale.
Their first meeting of the season came back on March 15th, 2025, in the MEC opener when Wheeling fell by scores of 3-2 and 3-1. In game one, the Cardinals were led by Chyla Miller, who finished 1-3 with an RBI, while Maria Clark pitched 6.0 innings in relief allowing two runs. In game two, it was Kaylin Shields leading the way allowing three unearned over 6.0 innings, while Brooklyn Sanders finished 1-3 with an RBI.
The Details
First pitch for Sunday's doubleheader is scheduled for 2 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.
