Fairmont, W. Va- The Wheeling University Softball team (7-23), (2-8) took on the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons on the road this afternoon. After a six-inning 10-2 win for the Falcons in game one, the Cardinals were left heartbroken in game two. It was a tightly contested game throughout each inning, but Fairmont came away with the 2-1 win with a walk-off home run to end it.
Game One: Fairmont- 10 Wheeling- 2
The Cardinals started off with Kaylin Shields working a seven-pitch walk and then advancing to second base following a single to center field by Mackenzie Burns. Both crossed the plate whenever Maria Clark hit a double to give her squad the 2-0 lead. The Fighting Falcons did not trail for long as they tied it up at two before the inning ended. KeKe Warrix picked up a hit in the top of the second, and after a pitching change by Fairmont, Taylor Walsh took first base with a four-pitch walk. Wheeling was unable to bring home the two runners, which ended their half of the second. The Falcons went up by one when they homered to center field, but the Cardinals limited the damage, getting the three outs immediately after.
With the exception of a Fairmont fielding error that allowed Burns to reach first, the Cardinals went down in order. The Falcons used the bottom of the third to stretch the game out. Two walks, a fielder's choice, and a two-RBI home run gave FSU a four-run lead by the end of the third as they now led 6-2. Warrix managed to get on base with a walk and then she made it second following a hit by Mikaela Holp. They each advanced a base after a passed ball to put runners in scoring position. However, Fairmont turned the double play by tagging Walsh out after trying to advance to second and throwing Warrix out at home. The Falcons continued to push the lead when a fielder's choice and a defensive error gave a Falcon enough time to reach home. Then, a single that squeaked its way to left field tacked on two more runs. By the end of the fourth inning, Fairmont was ahead 9-2. Wheeling was unable to get anything started in the top of the fifth or sixth, but the defense did a great job of ensuring the Falcons did not score either. However, Fairmont earned a walk in the bottom of the sixth, and they ended up scoring to end the game in the sixth inning by a final score of 10-2.
Mackenzie Burns, Maria Clark, KeKe Warrix, and Mikaela Holp each recorded one hit. Clark finished with two RBIs. Kaylin Shields pitched 2.2 innings and picked up the loss, recording one strikeout. Tasiana Taufahemapitched 2.1 innings while Jordyn Busseri appeared in 0.1 innings.
Game Two: Fairmont- 2 Wheeling- 1
KeKe Warrix recorded the first hit of the game when she directed the ball to the shortstop and beat out the throw to first. She stole second, but the Cardinals could not bring her home. Similarly to the Cards, the Falcons got their first hit and then stole second, but despite working a walk, they also were unable to cross the plate as the first inning ended scoreless. The second inning came and went as both teams went down in order. Taylor Walsh earned a walk, but that would be the only action in the third inning for Wheeling. Fairmont got a hit and was hit by a pitch, but the Cardinal defense remained composed and sealed the inning.
The bats started out on fire for the Cardinals in the top of the fourth. Mackenzie Burns, Maria Clark, and Madison Kay all put the ball in play. Kay's double that went into left field bought enough time for Clark to make her way to home plate from first base to give Wheeling a 1-0 advantage. Even though the defense surrendered two hits, the Cardinals held the Fairmont offense off the board and ended the fourth inning with the 1-0 lead.
Rayn Casassa got on base to start the fifth with a single down the right field line. Then, Mikaela Holp made it first base because of a throwing error by the first basemen, which allowed Casassa to get to third. Holp stole second afterwards, but Fairmont struck out the next three batters to leave them stranded. The strikeouts injected some life into the Fairmont offense as they were finally able to manufacture the game-tying run by the end of the fifth inning.
Wheeling was able to get two runners on base once Kay doubled into left field for her second hit of the game and Marissa Rodriguez worked a six-pitch walk. However, the offense stalled, sending the game to the bottom of the sixth. Wheeling held Fairmont to two hits and a walk before the Cardinals threw out a Falcon that was coming home all the way from center field to keep the game knotted at 1-1. Unfortunately, the Wheeling offense went down in order, and the Falcons hit a walk-off home run to win the game 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh.
Madison Kay led the offense in game two, going 2-3 and recording one RBI. KeKe Warrix, Mackenzie Burns, and Rayn Casassa each recorded one hit. Ryleigh Peters pitched 6.1 innings and struck out three batters in the loss.
The Wheeling University Softball team travels to take on the Frostburg State Bobcats, tomorrow, April 4th. Game one is scheduled for 12pm and game two is scheduled for 2pm.
