Charleston, WV- Wheeling Jesuit softball opened conference play against the University of Charleston (9-9) on Wednesday evening. The Lady Cardinals (3-7) split the two game series, taking the first 6-5 and dropping the second 9-3.
In game one, the Lady Cards pounded out nine hits, including three doubles and two homeruns. Charleston put up a three spot in the first, while Jesuit scored one run in each of the first three innings and exploded for three in the seventh. The Lady Cardinals fought off UC’s final attempt at a comeback in the bottom half of the seventh to hold on for the 6-5 win.
Shaynna Johnson homered in the first inning to start the scoring and led the Cardinal hitters going 3-3 at the plate. Angela Petros doubled and scored in the second inning, while Rachelle Carello dropped a bomb in the third to tie the game at three.
In the seventh, Ashley McSweeney broke the scoring silence when she laced her second double, driving in Samantha Kozbial and Johnson after their back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Samantha Macioce drove in McSweeney for what proved to be the game winning RBI.
Olivia Wamsley hurled all seven innings and received the win. Wamsley scattered eleven hits, struck out two, allowed two free passes, and was charged with three earned runs.
In the nightcap, Charleston opened the game with four runs on three doubles and a single. They would add one in the second, three in the third, and one in the fourth.
Wheeling crossed the plate twice in the fifth and McSweeney homered in the sixth for their final run.
The softball team will travel to Salem, Virginia for a five game weekend tournament starting Friday, March 19th against Lockhaven and California PA. The games are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
