Wheeling Softball Wrapped Up Season at Alderson Broaddus - Wheeling University Athletics (2024)

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Game Recap: Softball | 4/30/2023 5:14:00 PM

Philippi, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Softball team (7-43, 5-27) wrapped up their 2023 schedule on Saturday as they went on the road to face Alderson Broaddus. The Cardinals battled in two tough games on the afternoon, but ended the year being swept by the Battlers to finish 7-43 overall. It was a one-run affair in game one that saw Wheeling fall 6-5, while the Battlers put up six runs again in game two, where they pulled off a 6-2 win to close out the doubleheader.

Game One: Alderson Broaddus 6, Wheeling 5

In the first game of the day, there was plenty of offense to go around, with the Cardinals getting things started in the top of the first. After a groundout started things, Madison George would bet the team's first base runner with a one-out single. Avonikah Salas would run for George and a Feyh single advanced runners to first and second with one away. Salas would advance to third on a throw during the Feyh single and was able to get home when Brooke Slomkowski singled to bring home Salas and make it a 1-0 Wheeling lead. Maria Clark came to the circle with the lead in the bottom half of the first, but the Battler offense was just as relentless. They put up a five-spot against the Cardinals in that bottom of the first and after one it was Alderson Broaddus 5, Wheeling 1.

Wheeling needed a big answer entering the second inning and they would get just that as Abby Bumbico, who took over in the circle for the finals two outs of the first, walked to lead things off. After a groundout moved her to second Natalie Stoner singled to center field and led runners to first and third with one out. Stoner stole second to get into scoring position and Maddie Munoz would drive in both runners with a two-RBI double that made it a 5-3 game. After an error and a single by Salas, both runners would move up 60 feet as Salas stole second and Munoz stole home to make it a 5-4 game before the inning ended. It was just a two-run game and Abby Bumbico did her part to keep her team in the game.

She would throw 4.2 scoreless innings of work, allowing five hits on the day in what was her best outing of the season. While she was cruising in the circle, her offense would get her one step closer in the top of the fifth. Anna Florczak would start things with a single and Jenna Hollerich and Bumbico would follow with singles of their own to load the bases. Sarah Florczak would step in to pinch hit and got her first collegiate RBI with a groundout to drive in her sister and make it a tie game at 5-5. After Bumbico's day concluded, Randi Holder came on for the bottom half of the fifth and threw up two straight zeroes to keep it a 5-5 game. However, in the bottom of the seventh she would give up her only run of the day, and it came on a walk-off single that gave Alderson Broaddus a 6-5 win.

It was another big effort for catcher Maddie Munoz, who had two hits and two of her team's RBI on the day. She went 2-5 on the day with a double and two RBI as she continues to hit the ball well as a leadoff hitter. Jenna Hollerich had a team-high three hits on the day, going 3-4, and Brooke Slomkowski and Sarah Florczak each finished with RBI. The Cardinals would look to bounce back in game two and end their season on a high note.

Game Two: Alderson Broaddus 6, Wheeling 2

The second game of the day would also see the Cardinals have some quick strike offense, getting on the board in the first. Maddie Munoz singled and advanced to second to start the inning before a groundout moved her to third with one out. Cassie Feyh would lift a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Munoz home and the Cardinals were off and running with a 1-0 lead. Jenee Brodeur would get the start in what would be her final collegiate game, but just like Clark she was tagged for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to put the Battlers out in front 2-1. Both pitchers would throw up back-to-back zeroes in the second and third, but the Battlers were the ones to add on, scoring one in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead heading into the final two innings.

Brodeur ended up throwing the complete game effort, her first of the season, to round out her year. She threw 6.0 innings of work allowing six runs on 11 hits, while walking two and striking out four. The sixth run she allowed came in her final inning of work and the Cardinals came back to the plate looking to stay alive in the top of the seventh. After two quick outs, Madison George kept the game alive with a double to put a runner in scoring position with two outs. Cassie Feyh would then step in and singled to right to bring home George and make it a 6-2 game. Unfortunately, those were the only two two-out hits the team would come up with as a lineout ended the game and sealed the Cardinals fate with a 6-2 loss.

It was another big game for Munoz, who finished with five hits on the day, to go 5-9 in her final two games. She finished 3-4 with a run scored on the day to close her junior season. Both of the team's runs came courtesy of Cassie Feyh, who finished 1-4 with a pair of RBI, while four other Cardinals finished the day with at least one hit. The Cardinals brought their season to an end sitting at 7-41 as they look to continue to grow this off-season.

The Wheeling University Softball team now heads into the off-season as they look to continue to grow as a team and comeback stronger in 2024.