Jesuit Softball Splits Doubleheader

Vienna, WV, Apr. 21, 2010---In a make-up WVIAC conference series, Wheeling Jesuit split a pair of one-sided victories in a doubleheader with Ohio Valley University. The Cardinals surrendered game one 14-6 only to comeback with a lopsided victory of 13-5.

After Ashley McSweeney open the game with a double, the Fighting Scots recorded three outs and scored the game’s initial runs. An error surrounded by a pair of walks allowed the Scots to score a run, and then, Kelsey Graham singled home their second run of the first frame.

The Lady Cardinals exploded for five runs on four doubles, a single, and a walk the following inning. Jordan Burkhart started the rally with a double, and Samantha Kozbial mirrored the performance but added an RBI a batter later. After Angela Petros singled home Kozbial, McSweeney cracked the third RBI of the inning, allowing Petros to cross the plate. The final two-bagger was put in play by Shaynna Johnson, who followed a Kurowski walk, scoring McSweeney and Kurowski and securing a 5-2 lead.

The Cardinals plated their final run in the third inning when Petros singled home Olivia Wamsley. Unfortunately, Ohio Valley surged and used the bottom of the frame tie the game at six while adding seven in the fourth for a convincing lead.

All nine Fighting Scots contributed to the two-inning outburst by scoring at least one run each. Six hits scattered the yard and five reached on pitches. Sarah Simmons drove in four base runners with a pair coming in the third off a double and the second pair on a single an inning later. Kate Whiteman also used a double for two RBI, sending Simmons and Graham around the bases.

On the mound, Raegan Turner recorded the win as she shut down the Cardinal offense only allowing one base hit to Aleecia Sunagel.

For the Lady Cardinals, Olivia Wamsley took the loss as she struck out six. Wamsley scattered ten hits and allowed seven earned runs in the losing effort.

Game two showed many of the same tendencies, but this time, Wheeling Jesuit put up the larger number.

Two singles plated the first two runs for Ohio Valley when Mandy Strom scored Brittany Shepley after she led off with a triple. On the ensuing play, Wheeling Jesuit catcher Gina Hicks caught Strom red-handed, trying to steal second base. Tabitha Hill followed with a double, and Simmons singled home Hill for the Scots second run.

Down 2-0 in the second inning, Burkhart took a familiar trip around the bases as she blasted her fifth homerun to date which was the only scoring threat of the inning.

Ohio Valley quickly responded with a run and added two more an inning later as Simmons and Graham turned in back-to-back doubles with Simmons and Hill scoring – Hill reached on a walk.

Johnson cleared the playing field and the bases with a three-run jack as she plated Petros and McSweeney – Petros doubled, and McSweeney singled.

The next three innings were all Wheeling Jesuit, the Lady Cards exploded with four in the fifth, one in the sixth and four more in the last.

Samantha Macioce initialized the charge when she reached first and advanced to second on an error in center field. An at-bat later, Johnson singled and both, Macioce and Johnson, scored on consecutive fielder’s choice plays by Sunagel and Burkhart. Sunagel and Burkhart would eventually add runs when Kurowski put the ball in play, and an errant throw moved everyone up.

Macioce singled home McSweeney in the sixth, and Sunagel went deep in the seventh to kick off the final inning. After another OVU miscue, Wamsley and Hicks loaded the bases with a pair of singlesbringing McSweeney to the dish. McSweeney scored Burkhart and Wamsley with a hit, and Hicks was momentarily held at third. The following pitch got away from Graham allowing Hicks to advance for the Cardinals 13th run.

After a shaky start, Ashley Nichols settled down and dominated the Fighting Scots offense in the last four frames. Nichols only allowed one hit in the final four and fanned four hitters for the complete game victory. On the day, she scattered nine hits and allowed five Scots to touch home, giving up two free bases and retiring five on swings.

The Cardinals are scheduled to finish up conference play this weekend as the play host to Seton Hill University on Saturday, April 24 for senior day beginning at 2:00 p.m.

On Sunday, the team will travel up the Route 88 hill to play backyard rival, the Hilltoppers of West Liberty Universty, which is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.