Charleston, W.Va.- Golden Eagles pick up two more conference wins with a sweep over Wheeling.  

The Basics
Location: Watt Powell Annex
Score: G1: UC 5, WU 2, G2: UC 7, WU 6
Records: UC 13-9 (5-1 MEC),  WU 9-12 (2-4 MEC)

How it Happened

Game One 
Wheeling took an early 1-0 lead, but Charleston regained the lead in the second inning. The Maroon and Gold would hold on for a 5-2 victory at home.

Wheeling didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard, as Taylor Hradek led off the contest with a single and immediately stole second base. After a passed ball, two-hole hitter, Makie Paxson looped a ball to right field to score Hradek.

UC would respond in the second inning. Mikayla Ferguson led off the frame with a walk, and Reagan West followed with a bunt single. With no outs and a 1-1 count, Kaylee Hotchkiss suffered an injury and was replaced by pinch hitter Carlie Odejewski. Odejewski dropped a perfect bunt for a base hit to load the bases. The next two UC batters were retired, and Kendal Marshall stepped in a lined a single down the right field line to score two. During the play, the Cardinal defense fell asleep and Odejewski took advantage by sprinting home from third without a play, giving UC a 3-1 lead.

The Golden Eagles would extend the margin to 4-1 after three consecutive singles by Rose, Marshall, and Allysa Lake. Lake's base hit would drive in Rose.

After the early struggles, Dani Bauer settled in nicely. She would not face a threat again until the fifth inning when the Cardinals would pick up a run on a sacrifice fly making the score 4-2.

In the sixth, Odejewski picked up her second base hit of the game to start the inning. A Hannah Rose walk would push her to second base. Lake would follow with a ground rule double that hopped the right field fence to give a final score of 5-2.

Game Two 
The UC bats were alive early in game two as they stormed out to a 6-0 lead after four innings. Wheeling was able to battle back with six unanswered runs of their own to tie up the ball game in the top of the seventh. Clutch base running and smart softball would allow the Golden Eagles to take this one 7-6 in walk-off style.

In the first, UC picked up a couple early runs. Hannah Rose walked, and then both Kendal Marshall and Allysa Lake singled. Gracie Donato lofted a sac fly to give UC their first run of the game. The second run came on a double steal as Lake stole second and Marshall was able to slide under the tag at the plate to extend the lead, 2-0.

Hannah Rose provided the fireworks in the second inning for UC. After a single by Olivia Pelfrey, Rose hammered a pitch over the centerfield fence to add to the UC lead, 4-0. The homer was the first of her career.

In the fourth inning, Rose would drive in her third and fourth runs of the ball game by lacing a single to center. Reagan West, who had walked, and pinch runner Lindsay Reavis would come in to score pushing the UC advantage to 6-0.

Staked to a 6-0 lead, UC starting pitcher Morgan Hoppe was cruising. Through four innings, Hoppe only surrendered one base hit. In the fifth, however, she was touched up for five consecutive hits, and she was lifted from the game with a 6-4 lead. Mahea Haegele came in with one runner on base, and quickly extinguished the rally with a strikeout and a double play.

Haegele was touched up for a homer in the fifth, but successfully held the lead until the seventh. Game one winner Dani Bauer was summoned from the bullpen to close out the game. Wheeling lead-off hitter, Maki Paxson, reached base on an error and stole second base. Cassi Roman then lined a single just inside the bag at third base to score Paxon to knot the game up at six.

The stage was set for UC as Gracie Donato singled with one out and was lifted for pinch runner Jade Espinosa. Espinosa quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch as Dani Debenedictis was squaring up for a sacrifice bunt. Two pitches later, Espinosa stole third base easily. Debenedictis followed up by punching a grounder to second, allowing Espinosa to dart home with the game-winning run.

Dani Bauer picked up her second victory of the day with one inning of work. She allowed one hit and struck out one.

Up Next:
Charleston will host West Liberty University on Sunday, March 27 at the UC Softball Field. Game one's first pitch is slated for 1:00pm.