Wheeling, W. Va- The Wheeling University Softball team (0-2), (0-0) took the field for day two of "The Highlands Classic" to square off against the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks. The Cardinals battled hard and came close to overcoming a four-run deficit in the sixth inning but fell short of the prize by a final score of 5-3.
After only surrendering a triple on the first at-bat of the game, Kaylin Shields was able to keep IUP from scoring and also picked up her first strikeout of the game. The bottom of the first started when KeKe Warrix hit a single, but with her speed, she hustled to second. With two outs against her, Mackenzie Burns drove her teammate in for the first run of the game with a double sent to the outfield. She ended up on third base because of an error by the Crimson Hawks second baseman, but even though she did not cross home plate, Burns had given the Cardinals a 1-0 lead at the end of the first.
The Crimson Hawks managed three hits in the top of the second as the last one doubled into left field, causing the Hawks to cross the plate to even the score at one. Wheeling and IUP went down in order at the bottom of the second and top of the third respectively. Warrix recorded her second hit of the contest with a hard-hit single out to left field and then immediately stole second to put herself in scoring position. She would be left on base, but the game was still knotted at one.
IUP's bats were active in the top of the fourth, recording four runs, four hits, and two errors by the Cardinals. Ryleigh Peters relieved Shields, and despite having the bases loaded, the infield prevented the Crimson Hawks from cashing in on those runs as Burns tagged a runner out unassisted. IUP jumped out ahead of Wheeling, 5-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Brook Sanders registered a single for the Cards, but she was left on base to end the inning.
Peters walked two in the top of the fifth but left them stranded on base to keep her team in the game. After being hit by a pitch, Priscilla Villarreal took first and Jordyn Busseri took her place on the base paths. Up next came Maria Clark, who came in as a pinch hitter, and she drove a single out into left field that put Cardinal runners on first and second. However, a lineout and a tag at second completed the double play, and the Hawks still led 5-1 going into the sixth inning.
The Cardinal defense and Peters only conceded a single that went out to center field, which kept Wheeling's hopes alive for a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. The Cardinal offense had some work to do, but they were not afraid of the challenge. It started when Denise Carrillo came in as a pinch hitter. She reached first because of an error on the throw by the Hawks' shortstop, but all that matters is that she was on. Ava Kresak subbed in for her and was able to successfully steal second to get into scoring position. With only one out, Burns put bat-to-ball for a single that put runners on the corners. Kylea Chapple pinch ran for Burns and managed to get herself to second via a steal, which meant two runners were primed to score. Then, Sanders stepped into the right-handed batter's box and smashed a bases-clearing double out to left field, putting the Cardinals in striking distance, 5-3. Rayn Casassa took over for Sanders on second, and after Eden Troxel and Villarreal drew walks, the bases were juiced.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals were unable to capitalize on the opportunity following a quick pitching change by IUP, and the sixth inning passed. The seventh came and went, and with no runs from either side; Wheeling had come short of the victory, falling 5-3 to IUP.
KeKe Warrix, Mackenzie Burns, and Brook Sanders each finished with a team-high of two hits. Sanders led the team with two RBIs while Burns finished with one. Warrix, Ava Kresak, and Kylea Chapple each finished with one run. Kaylin Shields was given the loss, falling to 0-1, but recorded four strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched.
The Wheeling University Softball team takes on the University of Findlay for day three of "The Highlands Classic" tomorrow, February 22nd. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30pm.
