Salem, V.A- The Wheeling University Softball team (3-13), (0-0) traveled down to Virginia for more non-conference action. The Cardinals took on the IUP Crimson Hawks in game one and fell by a score of 9-0 and then fell to California University of Pennsylvania in game two 2-1. Despite the unfavorable results today, the team has the chance to turn the trip around tomorrow morning against Winston Salem and the University of Pitt-Johnstown. 

Game One: IUP- 9 Wheeling- 0 

The Cardinals started the game off with their bats in hand and were looking to generate some offense. Despite having two strikes against her, Mackenzie Burns picked up the first hit of the game with a single down the right field line. Brook Sanders kept the train moving with a double that was hit down the opposite line, meaning the Cards had two runners in scoring position. However, Wheeling was unable to bring them home, and the inning moved to the bottom of the first. After an error and two walks, Ryleigh Peters threw out a pitch that the Hawks thought they could hit, but the ball breezed by the bat and into the glove of the catcher for strike three and the end of the first without any change in the score. 

Priscilla Villarreal got on base as the first batter of the second with a single into right field, but the IUP defense struck out the next batter and turned a double play. The Crimson Hawks earned a walk and a single, but two fielders' choice plays and a caught flyout ended the second inning, 0-0. 

Wheeling went down in order in their half of the third, and when it was time for IUP to dig into the box, they would find themselves there for a while. On the second pitch of the at-bat, the Hawks homered to center field to get the first run on the board. Taylor Walsh stepped into the circle for the Cards following a double, but the IUP offense continued to produce. The Crimson Hawks went on to add an additional four runs before the inning ended with a 5-0 IUP lead. 

Following another 1-2-3 inning for the Cardinals, IUP homered once again to go up by six. Kaylin Shields was subbed in for Walsh in the circle, and she was able to keep the Hawks at bay, stranding two runners on base.Wheeling was unable to generate any momentum in their half of the fifth inning. Unfortunately, the Crimson Hawks earned two walks and their third homer of the contest to end the game in the fifth inning by a final score of 9-0. 

Mackenzie Burns and Brook Sanders notched the only hits for the Cardinals, each going 1-2 at the plate. Taylor Walsh recorded two strikeouts while Ryleigh Peters and Kaylin Shields each recorded one. 

Game Two: Cal U- 2 Wheeling- 1 

Following a single and a double to put runners in scoring position for the Vulcans, the Cardinals turned a double play as Tasiana Taufahema notched one out at third and KeKe Warrix and Grace Mummery combined to tag the runner at second before she could tag back up. Makenzie Burns got the easy third out to put her squad on offense. However, Wheeling was unable to generate contact and went down in order. 

Both Cal U and Wheeling went down in order in the second inning. The Vulcans managed a single in the top of the third, but the Cardinal defense closed out the half inning. After another three-and-out showing for Wheeling, they went back out into the field to hold Cal U off the board for the top of the fourth. Despite the Vulcans earning a walk and reaching base on an error, Maria Clark struck out her second batter of the afternoon. The Wheeling offense was stalled with two lineouts and a strikeout as the fourth inning ended, and the game remained scoreless. 

The fifth inning was about the same for both clubs as each managed a single. Clark drove a single out to left field for Wheeling, but nothing further than that. Cal U worked a five-pitch walk to get on the basepaths to start the sixth inning off. The Cardinal defense recorded the first two outs via a fielder's choice and a ground out. Despite two outs against the Vulcans, Cal U homered to go up 2-0. The bottom of the sixth proved to be unsuccessful for the Cardinal offense as the Vulcans held a 2-0 lead heading into the seventh. 

Cal U was looking to add more runs on the board with a single, a sacrifice bunt to move that runner to second, and a walk. However, Clark picked up another strikeout and Warrix made a good throw to first for the easy third out. It was now or never for the Cardinals. Ava Kresak worked a five-pitch walk to put herself on first base. Warrix laid down a bunt to move Kresak to second. Following an infield popout, Clark scorched a ground ball up the middle that brought Kresak home to go down by one. Despite the good news, Cal U closed out the game with a fielder's choice and secured the 2-1 win over Wheeling. 

Maria Clark led the offense, going 2-3 at the plate and recorded an RBI. Ava Kresak scored the lone run for Wheeling. Clark pitched all seven innings for the Cardinals, finishing with four strikeouts. 

The Wheeling University Softball team takes the field tomorrow morning at 10am to face off against the Winston-Salem Rams. Then, will close out the Salem Invitational when they play the University of Pitt-Johnstown at noon.