Lakeland, FL. - The Wheeling University Softball team (3-9)(0-0) took to the field for the final day of their florida trip, facing off in a double header against Florida Southern College, where they unfortunately came out on the losing side in both meetings.
Game 1 - Wheeling 2, Florida Southern 9
The two teams started out slowly, with the highlight from the top of the first for Wheeling coming from a single to centre field by Mackenzie Burns. She unfortunately wouldn't be able to make any more ground up, as two strikeouts in quick fashion sent the game to the bottom of the 1st. Six balls was all it took for Maria Clark and Wheeling to dispatch of Florida Southern in the first inning, with a lineout to Brooke Sanders and two ground outs to Maria Clark and Keke Warrix enough to end the 1st at 0-0.
The top of the 2nd got going with a quick single for Emilie Blackie, followed by an impressive homer from Priscilla Villareal to earn 2 RBIs and send Blackie home. Grace Mummery and Mickaela Holp would both earn singles shortly after, putting 2 Cardinals on bases. Despite this, Wheeling couldn't capitalise as they gave away two fly outs to go to the bottom of the 2nd. The bottom of the second opened with a quick ground out, as Maria Clark combined with Keke Warrix. What followed was not ideal for the Cardinals, as two Florida Southern players walked and another stole second. Keke Warrix was involved in another out for Wheeling, this time throwing to Mackenzie Burns on fielders choice. Florida Southern would earn 2 runs from a single, before a lineout to Grace Mummery ended the 2nd.
The top of the 3rd would look alot like the 2nd, with Grace Mummery and Emili Blackie singling up the middle and left side respectively. Again, the Cardinals couldnt take advantage of the players on base, as a strike and fly out ended Wheeling's third stint facing. The bottom of the 3rd would be where Florida Southern started to find their groove. Despite two early puts from the Cardinals courtesy of Marissa Rodriguez and Grace Mummery, Florida Southern would keep their cool and hit 5 singles, with another stealing second. Florida Southern would earn 3 RBIs before the end of the inning, putting the game score at 5-2 in favour of the team from the sunshine state.
Wheeling again struggled to get off the mark in the 4th inning, with Grace Mummery proving her talent as she again hit a single. Mummery would advance to second, but two fly outs and a ground out following meant that Wheeling were in to field. The bottom of the 4th would be more of the same for Florida Southern, as Wheeling errors started to show. Keke Warrix would write her wrong as she got the Cardinals their first out with a fielders choice. A batter advanced to first following the fielders choice, and following a walk and a triple earning 2 RBIs, Florida Southern would earn two runs to take their total to 7. They were not done there for the inning as following a sacrifice fly out, Florida Southern earned another RBI to end the inning at 8-2 after a final foul out.
The top of the 5th was another unfruitful one for Wheeling, as 3 outs in quick succession sent Florida Southern in to bat. Maria Clark would regain some confidence with a strike out on the first batter, before allowing a couple singles putting batters on first and second. Clark would regain composure to earn another two strike outs to end the inning, keeping the score at 8-2 in favour of Florida Southern.
Following an early foul out at the top of the 6th, Grace Mummery would once again come through with a hit and a single on her second ball. She did however get out after a fielders choice to short stop, which allowed her teammate Mikaela Holp to reach first. The inning would be sent to the bottom shortly after a foul out from Madison Kay. Florida Southern kept chipping away at the bottom of the 6th, and a wild Cardinal pitch saw a runner reach third. This allowed another RBI for Florida Southern following a hit single. After two fly outs from Marissa Rodriguez and Mikaela Holp, the 6th was put to a close at 9-2.
Mackenzie Burns would hit for a single at the top of the 7th, with Ava Kresak pinch running for Burns. Kresak wouldnt be able to make any ground however, as three outs in a row for the Cardinals concluded game one, with Florida Southern prevailing 9-2.
Grace Mummery would top Wheeling's effort with 3 hits, whilst Ava Kresak and Mackenzie Burns both had 2. Kaylin Shields would highlight Wheeling's pitching performance, earning 5 strikeouts.
Game 2 - Wheeling 0, Florida Southern 3
The second game of today's Softball double header got underway with another customary Grace Mummery Single. This was followed by another single from Keke Warrix, allowing Mummery to advance to second. Next to bat was Mackenzie Burns and although she reached, the fielders had a choice of who to out, and this time they chose Mummery. Another fielders choice would follow, this time outing Burns and leaving only Warrix out on third. Denise Carillo would be the next and last batter for Wheeling's inning, as she was grounded out. Florida Southern stepped in with a single to start proceedings, with the batter going on to steal second. Wheeling's Grace Mummery would earn a ground out shortly after, before Florida Southern earned their first RBI following another single. Ava Kresak would go on to earn her first out of the game, with Grace Mummery ending the inning as she earned a ground out on the next batter. Going into the second, the score would be 1-0 in favour of FSC.
After an early fly out at the top of the 2nd Priscilla Villareal was hit by the pitch, earning her a reach. Villareal would advance to second following an Ava Kresak single down the left field line. None of these positions could be capitalised on by Wheeling however, as two outs followed to send the inning to the bottom. The second inning would prove to be a stalemate between the teams, as a fly out to Ava Kresak, a line out to Mackenzie Burns, and a fielders choice combination between Burns and Keke Warrix ended the 2nd still at 1-0.
Strong fielding performances would be the story of the first half, as Wheeling were again unable to convert any RBIs, with there only reach in the 3rd coming from a Emili Blackie walk. The bottom of the 3rd would see Florida Southern's best batting performance of the game, despite conceding a pop up out to Grace Mummery on second base. What followed would be a single down the middle and a double down left field that earned Florida Southern their first RBI of the 3rd. The next batter also produced a single, earning another RBI and placing the game score at 3-0. After Maria Clark subbed back in to pitcher, Ava Kresak earned a fly out at left field, before Mickaela Holp and Denise Carillo combined at home to stop an RBI just in time, ending the inning with Flordia Southern up 3-0.
Florida Southern would provide a strong fielding display at the top of the 4th to once again shut out Wheling, despite Priscilla Villareal's single up the middle. Wheeling would return the favour to the southern team at the bottom of the inning, Keke Warrix and Grace Mummery each grounded out to end the inning, with the score still 3–0.
Despite Keke Warrix singling to short stop and advancing to second on a wild pitch at the start of the 5th, Wheeling couldn't get home. Florida Southern would collect a line out and two fielders choice outs to send them in to bat at the bottom of the 5th. Wheeling would continue their fielding form from the last inning as they stayed solid to shut out Florida Southern, as Maria Clark would take both a ground out and a strike out before Mackenzie Burns collected a line out to end the inning with the score still at 3-0.
With the last inning looming, Wheeling needed to get some runners home to make a run at Florida Southern. As had been the story all day, the Cardinals had no issue getting runners on base, with Denise Carillo and Ava Kresak both singling, whilst Priscilla Villareal reached on a fielders choice. The Cardinals received their second out through another fielders choice, but had Villareal on second and Kresak on first as Holp stepped up to bat. She unfortunately couldn't convert, and was grounded out to third base to end Wheeling's chances in the 6th. Florida Southern went cold with the bat in their hands yet again at the bottom of the 6th, as three ground outs from the Cardinals ended the inning.
The top of the 7th was Wheeling's last chance to salvage something from the final day of their spring trip down south. Grace Mummery would earn a walk, and after a punt from Keke Warrix, found herself on second base. Mackenzie Burns unfortunately grounded out to third base, which allowed Mummery to advance to third and be one base short from putting Wheeling on the board. The next ball unfortunately saw Emili Blackie grounded out to the pitcher, putting a lid on Wheeling's efforts as the game finished 3-0 in favour of Florida Southern.
Keke Warrix and Ava Kresak would both earn 2 hits each, whilst Grace Mummery, Denise Carillo, and Priscilla Villareal each earned 1. In 3.2 innings pitched, Maria Clark would only give up 2 hits, earning 1 strike out.
The Wheeling University Softball team returns to action on Wednesday, March 11th when they face Walsh University in a double header at home.
