It did not take the 2025 Cardinal softball team long to make a little history.
For the first time in t he 16-year history of the program, the Cardinals recorded a shutout sweep in a season-opening doubleheader Friday afternoon at Drumgoole Field at Cain Park. The 13th-ranked Cardinals blanked Ranger, 9-0 and 13-0, in run-ruled-shortened games.
Coach Maria Winn-Ratliff's squad is scheduled to be in action at home again to close the week. The Cardinals take on Trinidad State at noon and San Jacinto at 5 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Trinidad State and San Jacinto are scheduled to play at 3:30 p.m. each day.
Here is a recap of Friday's doubleheader:
GAME 1
Cardinals 9, Ranger 0
(5 innings)
Addison Wittram, Kiara Wiedenhaupt and Jade McQueen belted homeruns to power the Lady Cardinals in the first game. Wittram also had a double, scored two runs and drove in three runs in a 2-for-3 showing at the plate.
The Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the opening inning and then put the game on ice with a five-spot in the second.
Wiedenhaput also had multiple RBI with a pair.
Alizah Fields went 2-for-2 in the Cardinals' 10-hit effort.
Miranda Pena was the winner in the circle. She pitched three innings, scattering three hits and striking out three.
GAME 2
Cardinals 13, Ranger 0
(5 innings)
The Cardinals had six extra-base hits in an 11-hit attack in the second game.
Abby Hollingsworth had a triple and double and Sydney Murphy, Wiedenhaupt, Wittram and McQueen each had a double.
The Cardinals never let Ranger in the game, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first.
Wiedenhaupt drove in three runs and Wittram, Murphy and Hollingsworth had two each.
Dominque Vargas quieted Ranger from the circle, going four innings and striking out eight and yielding two hits.
