Winter Haven, Fla.- The Wheeling University Softball (3-7), (0-0) team took to the field for two games today, this being their third day of play down in the sunshine state. The Cardinals would grab their second win of the trip so far today against Sioux Falls in comeback fashion, before falling to Seton Hill later this afternoon. 

Game 1: Wheeling - 6 Sioux Falls - 5

Despite earning a ground out on the first ball of the day, the Cardinals would give up three errors in the first inning to allow Sioux falls to race into a 4-0 lead at the top of the 1st. With Wheeling unable to give a reply, the score was 4-0 in favor of Sioux Falls to end the first.

After a Sioux Falls batter got on base early in the second, the Cardinals were able to get a fly out and ground out one after another, courtesy of Ava Kresak and Mackenzie Burns. After a single that led to another run for Sioux Falls, KeKe Warrix's throw to Grace Mummery handed Sioux Falls their third out and sent the Cardinals in to bat. The bottom of the second would be no different to the first, with Wheeling earning no runs and leaving the score going into the third at 5-0.

Maria Clark would earn a strike out early in the third, before Mummery returned the favor to Warrix, earning Wheeling their second out. A Sioux Falls batter would steal two bases to end up on third, but would not be able to convert the run as a lineout to Mikaela Holp ended Wheeling's third fielding stint. After two early outs at the bottom of the third, Burns hit a single up the middle to put Wheeling on base. Brooklyn Sanders stepped into the box next and smashed a home run for Wheeling, and the comeback was on, down 5-2 at the end of the third.

USF managed to drive a double into left center, but the Cardinal defense left the runner stranded. However, the Cards were unable to capitialize yet, and still trailed 5-2 at the end of the fourth. The top of the fifth would see Sioux Falls get a couple of bases covered early, before Warrix and Mummery would combine again to earn Wheeling's first out of the inning. Clark would earn her second strike out shortly after, before a ground out to Burns sent the Cardinals in to bat. At the bottom of the 5th for Wheeling, Holp would reach first base after an early strike out for the Cardinals. she would reach 2nd shortly after following a sacrifice from Warrix, before advancing to third on a passed ball. Burns would reach first following a USF fielding error, where she would be replaced by Kylea Chapple to run. Chapple would steal second base and advance to third following a wild pitch, also allowing Holp to run home and put another run on the board for Wheeling, closing out the fifth 5-3.

The top of the sixth would see another inning where USF did not score a run, with Clark earning another strike out and a ground out, with another ground out to Burns sending the Cardinals to the bottom of the sixth 5-3 down. Wheeling would see two of their batters lined and struck out early, however Madison Kay would stay calm at the plate and earn a pinch hit. She would go on to double down the left field line and score, after a single up the middle from Mummery earned an RBI. Wheeling would not stop there, as Holp doubled to left field earning another RBI, allowing Mummery to run home. With the score now tied at 5-5, Wheeling needed a big return as Keke Warrix stepped up to the plate. She would provide just that as she too doubled, this time up the middle, to earn an RBI as Holp scored, putting the score at 6-5 in favor of the Cardinals. The comeback was complete and following a fly out shortly after, so was the inning. The Cardinals would head to the last inning needing to shut out USF for their second win of the trip.

The seventh would start shakily for the Cardinals, as USF started with a double to left center. Maria Clark would gather a popped up ball shortly after to earn the first out, before USF earned another single, putting one runner on third. With the game on the line, the Cardinals showed their fight, as a line out to Grace Mummery turned into a double play, throwing successfully to Brook Sanders and completing the double play to win the game 6-5.

Mikaela Holp, Sanders, Grace Mummery, Mackenzie Burns, Madison Kay, and KeKe Warrix all recorded one hit. Brooklyn Sanders led the Cardinals with two RBIs, while Warrix, Mummery, and Holp all had one. Maria Clark would come out victorious in the pitching game with four strike outs.

Game 2: Wheeling 1, Seton Hill 4

Brooklyn Sanders worked a two-out walk to give the Cardinals a base runner, but a fly out to right field ended the inning before Wheeling could create any momentum. Seton Hill got the bats cracking first in the bottom of the first. After two quick outs, The Griffins singled up the middle and another single down the right field line to put runners on the corners. The Cardinals stayed composed defensively though, forcing a pop up to center field to end the threat and keep the game scoreless.

The second inning was quiet for Wheeling. With two outs against her, Priscilla Villarreal reached base on a fielding error by the first baseman. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were unable to take advantage as the inning ended shortly after. Seton Hill broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning. After a pair of walks put runners on base, The Griffins hit a single to left center to load the bases. SHU then delivered the biggest hit of the inning, sending a double to left center that cleared the bases for three runs and moved her to third on the throw. Moments later, Seton Hill followed with an RBI single to right field, pushing the lead to 4-0 before Wheeling could get out of the inning.

Both teams settled back into a rhythm in the third inning. Wheeling managed to get a runner aboard after Warrix reached on an error and stole second, but the Cardinals could not bring her home. Seton Hill went down in order in the bottom half of the inning as the defense continued to hold strong.

Wheeling looked to spark something in the fourth. Carrillo singled to right field and Villarreal added a single of her own to put two runners on base. The Cardinals were unable to capitalize though, as a pop up ended the inning with both runners stranded. Seton Hill picked up a lead-off hit, but the defense stayed strong kept the Griffins from scoring, still down 4-0.

The Cardinals finally broke through in the fifth inning. With two outs, Burns drew a walk and Emili Blackie came off the bench with a pinch-hit single to left field. Madison Kay followed with a clutch RBI single to center field that brought Burns home and put Wheeling on the board, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

Seton Hill threatened to respond in the bottom of the fifth after a double to center field and then a single. A walk loaded the bases with one out, but Wheeling's defense stepped up when it mattered most. A fielder's choice resulted in a runner being thrown out at home, and a pop up to center field ended the inning with three runners left on base.

The Cardinals had another opportunity in the sixth inning when a pinch-hit by tasiana Taufahema double to right center put a runner in scoring position. Mikaela Holp followed with a single through the left side to move the runner to third, but a lineout ended the inning before Wheeling could add another run.

In the seventh, Burns led things off with a single to center field to give the Cardinals a spark. However, the momentum stalled when the pinch runner was ruled out at first base for leaving early. A walk later in the inning gave Wheeling another base runner, but the Cardinals were unable to extend the rally, sealing the 4-1 loss. 

Offensively, Madison Kay recorded the Cardinals' lone RBI, while Denise Carrillo, Priscilla Villarreal, Emili Blackie, Mackenzie Burns, and Mikaela Holp each added a hit. Ryleigh Peters was given the loss, recording 1.2 innings pitched and one strikeout. Kaylin Shields pitched in 4.1 innings and struck out two batters.

The Wheeling University Softball team return to action tomorrow, when they face Florida Southern College in a double header starting at 1pm.