Nichols Sends Ten Back to the Dugout, Lady Cards Split

Wheeling, WV, Apr. 3, 2010 ---Wheeling Jesuit pitchers held Bluefield State College to three runs on Saturday, as the Lady Cardinals split a doubleheader with the Blues.  Wheeling Jesuit won the first game, 7-1, with Bluefield taking game two, 2-1.

Ashley Nichols struck out ten Bluefield hitters, while allowing seven hits and one walk, to pitch the complete game victory in the afternoon’s opener.

Ashley McSweeney went 4-for-4 to lead the WJU hitters in game one.  Rachelle Carello, Angela Petros, and Aleecia Sunagel each contributed RBI singles.

Bev Netusil went 3-for-3 for Bluefield, while scoring the Blues’ lone first-game run.

The Lady Cards got off to a quick start in the nightcap, when McSweeney singled home Jordan Burkhart in the bottom of the first.

Bluefield answered quickly, however, with Heather Walters singling home Jessica Moses to tie the game at one.

Wheeling Jesuit only had four baserunners during the final six innings with the only scoring threat occurring in the bottom of the fifth.  Petros walked to lead off the inning, and, in a wild play, Sunagel dropped a bunt down the third base line, barely beating the throw to first, which errantly went into short right field.  With Petros racing to third on the play, Sunagel got caught in a rundown between first and second.  As Bluefield attempted a play on Sunagel, Petros made a mad dash for the plate, only to be gunned down on an alert throw by Bluefield second baseman Annie Conklin to catcher Netusil.

The score remained deadlocked at one until the seventh inning.  Cardinal pitcher Olivia Wamsley retired the first two hitters in the frame, before Virginia Smith lined a single to center field.  Netusil then followed with a double deep into the right-center field gap to score Smith with what turned out to be the game winner.

Bluefield relief pitcher Kari Chaffin retired the final eight WJU hitters to record the win, including snagging a line drive to end the game.

Bluefield improved to 3-17 with the win, while picking up its first conference victory of the season in eight tries. 

Wheeling Jesuit moved to 6-19 on the season, 4-8 in WVIAC play.