Softball Drops Day Two Doubleheader at Blue Bridge Battle
Owensboro, KY. - The Wheeling University Softball team (3-2, 0-0) opened up day two play at the Blue Bridge Battle with two games against tough non-conference opponents. They began the day against the University of Illinois Springfield and wrapped up against the University of Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Wheeling dropped both games by scored of 9-0 and 13-2 as they fell to 3-2 on the season. With one more day of competition ahead of them, the women are looking to build off the days experiences as they move forward.
Game 1: University of Illinois Springfield 9, Wheeling 0
The first game of the day saw the Cardinals take on the University of Illinois Springfield at 10 AM in their second game of the Blue Bridge Battle. Aubrie Lafferty stepped into the circle trying to keep her scoreless inning streak alive, but unfortunately things didn't go her way. The Prairie Stars jumped on her early for four runs in the first inning and added another two spot as the game moved to inning number two. The Wheeling offense looked as though they were going to respond when Taylor Hradek singled to start the first inning, but that was the lone hit as she was stranded on third base.
Lafferty would last four innings in the game and was charged for nine runs, five earned, over her four innings of work, and she will look to bounce back in her next outing. For the Cardinals, that first inning hit was all they would be able to muster and they only managed to have four batters reach base in the game. They were retired 1-2-3 in the third, fourth, and fifth innings before the eight-run rule was enacted handing them their first loss of the season. Madison Macy pitched the final inning of the game, and threw a scoreless fifth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Taylor Hradek has the only hit of the day in game one for the Cardinals, going 1-3 in her four at-bats on the day. Makie Paxson, Cass Romani, and Cassie Feyh were the other Cardinals to reach base, all getting on via the walk. The loss was Wheeling's first of the season as they looked for a bounce-back effort in their second game of day two.
Game Two: University of Indianapolis 13, Wheeling 2
In the second game of the day, Wheeling battle the University of Indianapolis and once again fell victim to early offense. Abby Bumbico got the start for Wheeling in game two and was greeted with a three run first inning from the Greyhounds. UIndy continued to pile on the runs adding two in the second, four in the third, and four in the fourth to finish off the night. Bumbico lasted three innings for the Cardinals, and was charged with nine runs, five earned, on 10 hits while walking three. Jamie Anderson came in to relieve Bumbico, throwing the final inning allowing four runs, two earned, on two hits while walking one batter.
The Cardinals came to the plate trailing 13-0 and were looking to keep the game alive. Back-to-back singles by Jamie Anderson and Leah Klockowski got the inning started and Hradek came through with the first run of the game on an RBI single to center. Makie Paxson followed her up with an RBI single of her own and just like that it was a 13-2 game. However, the final two batters of the night for the Cardinals were retired and the eight-run rule was enacted ending the game.
Hradek and Paxson had the two RBI on the day for the Cardinals and went 1-3 and 1-2 respectively from the plate. Cassie Feyh had the best offensive day for Wheeling, going 2-3 from the plate with the team's lone extra-base hit. It was Wheeling's first loss in a doubleheader sweep of the season and dropped their record to 3-2 on the season.
The Wheeling University Softball team will return to action on Sunday morning when they take on Missouri S&T at 10 AM followed by Ohio Dominican at noon.