Wheeling, W. Va. – After splitting the day on Saturdary, the Wheeling University Softball team (10-38, 5-21) was looking for a chance at a weekend win on Sunday. They welcomed Fairmont State to the J.B.Chambere I-470 Complex, and got out to a fast start in game one. However, the Falcon offense came back strong and the Cardinals were swept on the day, falling in game one 9-4 and dropping game two 7-1.
Game One: Fairmont State 9, Wheeling 4
In game one, the Cardinals sent their leader to the circle as Kaylin Shields took the ball. She was in control early, retiring the Falcons 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Her offense would respond in the bottom half of the inning, using a patient approach at the plate. It began with a Madison Kay walk, and Kaylin Shields and Maria Clark would follow suit to load the bases with nobody out. It brought designated player Mackenzie Burns to the plate and she would find the left-center field gap. It brought home Kay and Shields and the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead while still having runners at second and third with nobody out. Micah Wilson, who entered to face Burns was able to settle things down. The Cardinals were able to push one more run across in the inning when Keke Warrix stepped in two batters later. She grounded out for the second out of the inning, but Clark would come home to score and the Cardinals held a 3-0 lead after an inning.
With the lead in hand, Shields came back out to the circle and she was dominant in the early going. She allowed her first base runner in the top of the second on an error, and the Falcons wouldn't get their first hit until the top of the third. They would threaten in that inning, getting runners to second and third with two outs. Shields would get a fly out to get out of the inning, but Wilson settled in in the circle, keeping the Cardinals off the board for the next 5.2 innings and the Falcons bats would get going in the top of the fourth thanks to a pair of Cardinal errors. Fairmont State would push across six runs in the inning, with only two of those being earned. They would tack on another run in the top of the fifth, and Wheeling found themselves trailing 7-3. Shields would come back with a scoreless top of the sixth, but two more Falcon runs in the top of the seventh made it a 9-3 game.
Shields would end up throwing the complete game for the Cardinals, allowing nine runs, four earned, on 11 hits while walking two and striking out four. Despite trailing by six, the Cardinals would put together one last comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh. After a groundout started the inning, Shields would walk to start the inning, and Tasiana Taufahema stepped in as a pinch hitter and quickly deposited a single into center and the pinch runner Marissa Rodriguez would make her way to third. With runners on the corners and one out, Denise Carillo would step up and reached on a fielders choice to bring home the fourth run of the dar and make it a 9-4 game. With runners on rre corners and now two outs, the Cardinals continued to battle but they would end up falling by the final score of 9+4.
Leading the effort for the Cardinals was Mackenzie Burns, who finished 1-1 with a double and two RBI. After hitting the two RBI double in the first, The Falcons were careful with the Freshman the rest of the day and she drew three walks to round out her four plate appearances. Denise Carillo added an RBI, finishing 1-3, and the final RBI of the day would come courtesy of Keke Warrix, who finished 0-3 with an RBI in the effort. Kaylin Shields would get the start for the Cardinals and through a complete game allowing nine runs, foreigned, on 11. Hits while walking two and striking out four.
Game 2: Fairmont State 7, Wheeling 1
In the second game of the day, the Cardinals would see a pitcher making her first career start in the circle. Taylor Walsh would make her fourth appearance, first start and allowed a walk and a hit by pitch in the first, but were able to keep the Falcons off the board. After the Cardinals went 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning, Fairmont State would get their offense going with a three run top of the second. With Wheeling trailing 3-0, the Cardinals would put together a response in the bottom half of the inning. Grace Mummery would get the first Cardinal hit with a one-out double, and a fielder's choice would allow Taylor Walsh to reach as smart base running by Mummery lot runners at first and second still with just one out. Eden Troxel would advance the runners with a ground out, and Keke Warrix would come through with the RBI single to make it a 3-1 game.
After both teams scored in the second inning, both pitchers locked in on The circle. The Falcons Ace Danielle Haller took the ball and logged a complete game effort allowing just that one run in the bottom of the second. She would give up just two hits on the day while striking out three batters to keep the Wheeling offense at Bay. Walsh would have to work her way around some traffic, allowing six base runners over the next four innings, but she was able to keep Fairmont State off the board as well. The Cardinal freshman would walk five. Batters while striking out three, and got some big outs when she needed it as well as some clutch. Defensive plays behind her. However, Wheeling have hard time getting on base. Mike working a lot of deep counts against Haller. During that same stretch, the Cardinals worked two three ball counts but were unable to get anyone on base as it remained a 3-1 game.
That was the score heading into the top of the 6th and Fairmont State would add another run on an RBI double by Bre Marietta. It made it a 4-1 game heading to the 7th for the Falcons got a clutch hit that would end up being the deciding factor. It came on a pinch hit from Ashley Nordling With two on and Two outs. She would send a three-run home run over the center field wall. Open things up to a 7-1 Fairmont state lead. Walsh would get the final out of the inning and ended up throwing her first complete game allowing seven runs on 11. Hits a walking five and striking out three. The call Charles have one last chance in the bottom of the 7th, but they would go one two three to end the day with a 7-1 loss. It would mean the team got swept on the final day of the weekend, giving them a 1-3 record since Frostburg State and Fairmont State.
While there wasn't much offense in game two for the Cardinals, it was Grace Mummery 1-3 four-wheeler Run scored. She would get the first Cardinal hit in the bottom of the second. Was able to come across to get the only run of the game. That RBI would come from Keke Warrix, who finished 1-2 with that RBI on the day. Has the Cardinals heading to their final weekend of MEC play, we're walking to finish the regular season strong and get some help in the standings as they fight for a MEC Tournament berth.
The willing University Softball game returns to action on Thursday, 30th, when they traveled to Salem with first pitch at noon.
