WHEELING, WV – The Salem University Tigers softball team hit the road on Sunday for a non-conference doubleheader against Wheeling University, coming away with a split after two tightly contested matchups at The Highlands Sports Complex.

Game 1: Salem 6, Wheeling University 2

The Tigers opened the day with an offensive explosion in the early innings to secure a 6-2 victory. After a quiet first inning, Salem's bats came alive in the second. Ali Shrieve got the scoring started with an RBI double that brought home Ali Jacobs. Moments later, Bella Ortiz delivered a clutch single that, combined with a Wheeling error, allowed Kendall Lemley, Jacobi Gledhill, and Shrieve to cross the plate, giving Salem a 3-0 lead.

Salem added two more insurance runs in the third inning. Shrieve continued her hot streak with her second RBI double of the game, scoring Kylie Zinn, followed by a sacrifice fly from Gledhill to make it 5-1.

On the mound, Kendall Lemley was dominant, pitching a complete game. Lemley surrendered only two earned runs while striking out six Cardinals to earn her fourth win of the season.

Game 2: Wheeling University 5, Salem 0

In the nightcap, the Tigers struggled to find the same offensive rhythm, falling 5-0 as Wheeling's Kaylin Shields threw a complete-game shutout.

The game remained a scoreless pitcher's duel until the fourth inning, when the Cardinals finally broke through with an RBI single. Salem's best scoring opportunity came in the top of the fifth when Abigail Harki and Bella Ortiz both singled to load the bases, but the Tigers were unable to drive the runners home.

Wheeling pulled away in the sixth inning, capitalizing on two Salem errors to plate four unearned runs. Despite a solid start from Brooke Wise, who went five innings and allowed only one earned run, the Tigers' defense and lack of run support proved costly.

Up Next: The Tigers will look to build on the Game 1 victory as they continue their 2026 campaign.