Salem, VA. - It was win or go home for the Wheeling University Softball team (12-42, 8-18) as they headed to the James I. Moyer Sports Complex for day two of the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championships. With both teams throwing their aces in the elimination game, it was another close game that came down to the final Cardinal at-bats of the day. However, it would be just one run that ended up separating the two teams as Wheeling fell to Davis & Elkins 2-1, bringing their run in the tournament to a close.
After allowing just one run in the Cardinal's opening game of the tournament, Head Coach Mallory Chapman sent Kaylin Shields back to the circle for game two. She was opposed by Davis & Elkins ace Saylor Kneeland and just like in the opening game of the tournament for the Cardinals, both pitchers would command the circle. The Cardinals went 1-2-3 in the top of the first, before getting their first base runner on a Keke Warrix single in the top of the second. The Senators would get runners on in each of the first two innings, but both times Shields was able to work around the traffic and keep it a scoreless affair. In the top of the third, the Cardinals would threated after Denise Carrillo took advantage of a Bobcat error and made her way to second base on the throw.
Chyla Miller would step in and do her job, laying down a sacrifice bunt that got Carrillo to third and in stepped Ava Kresak with a chance to give the Cardinals the lead. She would ground a ball to third and, after checking the runner at third, the throw would go to first base. Carrillo would try to use her speed to get the Cardinal's first run of the game, but the tag would come just as Carrillo crossed home plate, keeping it a scoreless affair. After a 1-2-3 bottom of the third from Shields, Wheeling would once again threaten in the top of the fourth with Brooklyn Shields starting things with a one out double. With two outs, Warrix would pick up her second hit of the day, a single that moved the runner to third, but once again the runners were stranded and it remained a 0-0 contest.
After putting together back-to-back threats in the third and fourth innings, the Cardinals would finally break through in the top of the fifth inning. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Chyla Miller would get the Cardinals going with a two-out single. She would steal her way into scoring position and Kresak would come through as the lineup turned over. She laced an RBI triple to left center field, bringing home Miller to give Wheeling a 1-0 advantage. Shields responded with a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth and the Cardinals would load the bases in the top of the sixth with two outs. However, they couldn't push a big insurance run across and the Senators came to the plate for the bottom of the sixth with Wheeling leading 1-0. They got the inning started with a leadoff double and Ashlyn Zapach would tie the game with a single.
Frostburg State would push across one more run in the inning, courtesy of a Wheeling error and the Cardinals headed into their final at-bats with the score sitting 2-1 in favor of the Senators. Kresak would pick up her second hit of the day with a one-out single and a sacrifice would move her into scoring position as the go-ahead run. Brooklyn Sanders got the ball in the air, but unfortunately, it landed in the left fielder's glove and the game would come to an end as Wheeling fell 2-1.
It was another strong effort for Kaylin Shields in the circle, who logged her second complete game of the tournament. She would throw 6.0 innings allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits while walking one and striking out four. Leading the way for the Cardinal offense was Ava Kresak, who finished 2-4 with the lone RBI on the day. Keke Warrix would also pick up two hits, finishing 2-2, while Chyla Miller rounded out the day going 1-2 and scoring the Cardinal's only run of the day.
The Wheeling University Softball team now heads into the offseason as they look to grow and come back stronger next season.
