BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Wesleyan held off Wheeling University for a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, taking Game 1, 9-8 before grinding out a 2-1 win in the second game at home. The Bobcats used a five-run third inning to erase an early deficit in the first game, then leaned on a complete-game effort from
Morgan Greene in the nightcap to finish the sweep.
In Game 1, Wheeling struck first with two runs in the opening inning and added another in the second to move in front 3-2, but Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the third.
Jaelyn Riley walked and later scored,
Josi Fix drove in the tying run on a fielder's choice,
Reagan Winn came home during an aggressive baserunning sequence, and
Gracey Arnold delivered the key blow with a two-run double before
Kali Vance followed with an RBI single to cap a five-run surge and give the Bobcats a 7-3 lead.
Wheeling did not go away quietly. The Cardinals scored once in the fourth, once in the fifth, and then made things tense in the sixth when Kaylin Shields hit a two-run double and Maria Clark followed with an RBI double to cut Wesleyan's lead to 9-8.
Morgan Greene entered in relief and closed the door, working the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run.
Mackenzie O'Brien earned the win after pitching the first 5.1 innings, with Greene credited for the finish. Wheeling was paced by Madison Kay, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Shields and Clark combined for five RBI.
The second game turned into a pitcher's duel, with Wesleyan manufacturing just enough offense behind Greene. The Bobcats grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Riley reached on an error, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Fix's RBI groundout.
Wheeling answered in the second on Mackenzie Burns' solo home run, but Wesleyan reclaimed the lead for good in the fifth.
Ella Fournier singled to open the inning,
Emma Putman came on to run, and
Abigail Borello brought her home with a sacrifice bunt RBI for the eventual game-winner.
Greene was outstanding in the circle in Game 2, tossing a complete-game victory while allowing one run on eight hits and striking out four over seven innings. She worked around four walks and repeatedly escaped traffic, including a scoreless fifth after Wheeling put two runners aboard and a tense seventh inning that ended with the tying run on base.
Burns supplied Wheeling's lone run with her homer, while Keke Warrix collected three hits for the Cardinals. Ryleigh Peters took the loss for Wheeling after allowing just two runs in six innings.
The Bobcats return to action when they host Bowie State University on Tuesday, April 21. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
