Institute, W. Va- The Wheeling University Softball team (7-21), (2-6) battled it out on the road against the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinal offense was alive and well for both games, totaling 11 runs, but really shined in game two when Taylor Walsh smashed the ball for the game-tying home run for extra innings and Mackenzie Burns driving in the winning runs in the top of the eighth.
Game One: West Virginia State- 6 Wheeling- 4
Both teams picked up a hit in the first inning, but neither Wheeling nor State could bring their runner's home until the next inning. Eden Troxel worked a walk with one out against her, which set up Tasiana Taufahema to blast the ball into deep right field for her first home run of the season to put the Cardinals up 2-0. However, the Yellow Jackets responded with four hits in the bottom of the second, three coming consecutively when they had two outs against them, and it gave State a 3-2 lead at the end of the second inning.
The Cardinals went down in order to start the third and then gave up two more hits in the bottom half of that inning but held the W.V.S.U offense from scoring. Mikaela Holp singled to center field and stole second base afterwards, but the Cardinal offense was unable to move her along the base paths. The Yellow Jackets extended their lead whenever a sacrifice fly bought enough time for the runner to score, and then back-to-back RBI doubles moved them ahead to 6-2.
Two fielding errors by State gave Wheeling two runners on base. Eventually, a ground out to second base by Troxel gave Mackenzie Burns time to cross the plate from third to pull within three. The Cardinal defense gave up just a hit in the bottom of the fifth, but they left her stranded. Holp's hit put her on first base, and after advancing to second on a ground out, Kaylin Shields was called safe at first due to another error by State and Holp was able to bring the Cards to within two, 6-4 at the end of the sixth. Despite Shields striking out three batters to end the sixth, the Cardinals were unable to generate any momentum on offense and lost by a final score of 6-4.
Mikaela Holp went a perfect 3-3 at the plate and picked up a run and a stolen base. Eden Troxel, KeKe Warrix, Tasiana Taufahema, Taylor Walsh, and Kayline Shields all recorded one hit each. Shields pitched 6.0 innings and five strikeouts.
Game Two: Wheeling- 7 West Virginia State- 5
KeKe Warrix laid down a bunt single that resulted in her eventually stealing second and advancing to third because of a wild pitch. Mackenzie Burns singled to bring Warrix across the plate for the first run of the game. When it was State's turn, they were able to take a 2-1 lead in the form of a sacrifice fly to the outfield and a well-hit double to center field. Each team was kept scoreless in the second and in the third as well. However, Ava Kresak, Warrix, and Burns each singled in the top of the third.
After Wheeling was unable to bring a run to the plate in the fourth, the Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 3-1 following a fielding error by the Cardinals. Despite this, Wheeling made up for it in a big way in the next inning, scoring three runs. It started when Burns made contact for her third hit of the game to give her squad a runner with two outs against them. Taylor Walsh worked a walk and then Maria Clark came up in the clutch with a hit down the right field line for a bases-clearing double. Eden Troxel traded places with Clark to give Wheeling the lead again, 4-3, which prompted a pitching change for State. The Yellow Jackets responded quickly, bringing home two runs on three hits to reclaim the lead for themselves, 5-4. In the top of the sixth, Wheeling looked to break the game wide open as they loaded the bases: Grace Mummery doubled, Mikaela Holp picked up a single, and Warrix earned a walk. However, the Cardinals were unable to capitalize in the moment and were forced to play defense again. State loaded the bases just like Wheeling had done to them, but luckily, the defense and pitching left all three Yellow Jacket runners stranded.
As the Cardinals still trailed in the top of the seventh 5-4, they knew something big needed to happen. Walsh stepped into the box and on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, she launched the ball across the fence in center field, tying the contest and giving her squad new life. Wheeling did a great job on defense to prevent State from generating anything and forcing them to go down in order. The Cardinal offense wasted no time in extra innings. After Kresak was hit by a pitch and Warrix got another hit, Burns drove a single out into right field to bring both runners home for the 7-5 lead. The defense did its part in the bottom of the eighth and had officially completed the comeback win over the Yellow Jackets.
Eight different Cardinals recorded at least one hit, including Mackenzie Burns, who went 4-5 at the plate with a run and three RBIs. KeKe Warrix had a great day in the box as well, going 3-4 and scoring twice.Additionally, Taylor Walsh recorded her first home run of the season that tied the game for the Cardinals. Ryleigh Peters picked up her first win of the season as she pitched all eight innings and struck out three batters.
The Wheeling University Softball team takes on non-conference Edinboro University on Tuesday, March 31st, at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex. Games are scheduled for 2pm and 4pm.
