Wheeling, W. Va. — The Wheeling University Softball team is excited to play at home after a string of away games. They’ll face the Salem Tigers on Sunday and kick off Mountain East Conference (MEC) action against Point Park on Monday.
It’s been a while since their last game, which was just last week at the MEC/PSAC/CIAA Crossover. They had a tough start, losing to IUP and Cal U, but bounced back with a solid 12-6 win against Winston-Salem. Unfortunately, they lost 4-0 to UPJ right after that.
In the victory against Winston-Salem, nine players made hits. KeKe Warrix stood out, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Maria Clark also had a great performance with two hits and an RBI. Maria Harrison achieved a personal milestone, scoring her first two RBIs as a Cardinal.
Freshman Mackenzie Burns continues to impress. Across four games last weekend, she had three hits and currently boasts a .449 batting average. This puts her third in the conference. She’s a formidable presence at the plate with 22 hits and nine RBIs this season.
Maria Clark isn’t just a hitter; she leads the pitching squad, sporting a 3.82 ERA and a 3-3 record. She’s among the league’s top 10 for strikeouts. Meanwhile, Kaylin Shields is still seeking her first win, but she has struck out 44 batters in 46.2 innings pitched, which is impressive.
The matchups ahead face some weather changes. A game against Cedarville was postponed due to bad weather, and the games against Salem and Point Park have been moved back a day. They’ll now play Salem on Sunday and start MEC play on Monday, with both days featuring doubleheaders at 1 PM.
The Tigers have a current record of 4-9 and recently competed in Virginia, finishing 2-2. Freshman Ali Shrieve is a player to watch, with a .343 batting average. Senior Franchesca Alvaro leads their pitching staff, holding a 3.41 ERA.
Additionally, Point Park shares the same 4-9 record. Junior Emma Henry is their top hitter with a .351 average, while freshman Julia Johnson leads in pitching with a 3.55 ERA and 25 strikeouts.
As Wheeling takes on these teams, the players are looking to capitalize on home-field advantage. With promising talent at both the bat and the mound, the Cardinals are aiming to turn their season around. Recent statistics highlight the competitive nature of the MEC, where even teams with similar records can spring surprises.
Stay tuned for what promises to be an eventful few days for Wheeling Softball!
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