Bridgeport, W. Va- The Wheeling University Softball team (11-39), (5-21) took on the non-conference Salem Tigers in what turned out to be an exciting affair in game one. The 19 hits by the Cardinals marked their highest hit total of the season as they took down the Tigers 9-8 in game one. The offense was clicking throughout the contest and was able to string together multiple hits to pull off the win. Unfortunately, game two ended in a different story as Wheeling fell 9-0 to Salem.
Game One: Wheeling- 9 Salem- 8
The scoring started in the top of the second when the Cardinals strung together five consecutive hits. Gracey Mummery started the chain off, followed by Riley Pearlman, who recorded her first collegiate hit, and then the single by Eden Troxel brought Mummery home for the 1-0 lead. The hit by Rayn Casassa brought in Pearlman to go up 2-0 and then the half inning ended after Madison Kay got a hit for a single. Despite the strong start, Salem responded quickly. The Tigers took advantage of a Cardinal throwing error and scored three runs to take the lead by the end of the first inning.
After an uneventful third inning, the Cardinals cracked the game wide open. Troxel reached base following an error by the right fielder and would then move to third after back-to-back singles by Casassa and Kay. KeKeWarrix got a hit off and Troxel came home to score, which tied the game at three. Then, Mackenzie Burns stepped up to the plate, and with the bases loaded, she rocketed the ball over the outfield fence for a grand slam to jump out to a 7-3 advantage. The Tigers managed to get two runs back in the bottom half of the fourth with a two-RBI home run to make it 7-5.
Casassa picked up her third hit of the afternoon in the fifth and eventually came around to score after Warrix and Clark got hits to extend the lead to 8-5. Salem proved they were not giving up though and cut the lead back to two with a RBI double. Denise Carrillo worked a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth, and once again, the Cardinals recorded consecutive hits to bring Carrillo around to score thanks to Pearlman and Mummery for a 9-6 lead. The Tigers refused to back down and scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, and after back-to-back doubles and a sacrifice fly, Wheeling was only ahead by one, 9-8.
The Cardinals added two more hits in the top of the seventh, but an inning-ending double play gave Salem a chance to walk it off. However, the Cardinals prevented the two baserunners that were aboard from scoring and held on to win a thrilling game one by a final score of 9-8.
Four Cardinals ended the game with three hits: KeKe Warrix, Mackenzie Burns, Grace Mummery, and Rayn Casassa. Madison Kay and Riley Pearlman finished with two hits while Maria Clark, Denise Carrillo, and Eden Troxel all had one hit. Burns led the Cardinals with three RBIs. Kaylin Shields pitched 7.0 innings and finished with six strikeouts and three walks.
Game Two: Salem- 9 Wheeling- 0
Salem got their offense off to a good start in the bottom of the first when they scored four runs on two hits to take an early lead. They continued to add to their lead in the second with three consecutive RBI doubles for a 7-0 advantage. The Cardinals tallied their first hit of the game in the top of the third after Riley Pearlman made it to first base. Eden Troxel followed with a single of her own and a walk drawn by Rayn Casassa juiced the bases. However, Salem turned a double play and prevented Wheeling from scoring.
Maria Clark registered the team's third hit of the game in the top of the fourth, but the pitching from the Tigers prevented her from scoring. Salem used the bottom of the fourth to put the game away by bringing across two runs on three hits to end the game in the fifth inning by a final score of 9-0.
Riley Pearlman, Eden Troxel and Maria Clark each went 1-2. Taylor Walsh pitched 1.2 innings, walking two batters. Jordyn Busseri pitched 2.1 innings of relief, striking out two batters and walking one.
The Wheeling University Softball team travels to take on the Point Park Pioneers to close out their 2026 campaign tomorrow, May 1st. Game one is scheduled for 1pm and game two is set for 3pm.
