Sixteen games into the 2025 softball season, the 13th-ranked Cardinals are enjoying themselves, thank you.
Coach Maria Winn-Ratliff's squad went 4-0 versus Western Nebraska in a pair of doubleheaders played Friday and Saturday to improve to 15-1, which is the best start to a season in program history.
The Cardinals are scheduled to return to action on the road Friday against Grayson. Doubleheader action begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, the Cardinals are scheduled to be at home against Northeastern. Twinbill action gets going at 1 p.m.
Here's a recap of the four-game sweep of Western Nebraska.
FRIDAY
Game 1
Cardinals 8, Western Nebraska 0
A six-run Lady Cardinal sixth inning brought the game to an early ending in Game 1 at Drumgoole Field at Cain Park.
The Lady Cardinals made the most of seven hits. Kiara Wiedenhaupt had a pair of doubles to lead the plate effort.
Addison Wittram, who also had a double, drove in three runs.
Mirana Pena went the distance in the circle. She gave up three hits and struck out nine.
Game 2
Cardinals 9, Western Nebraska 1
The Cardinals stayed hot at the plate in the second game, collecting 10 hits and scoring all nine runs in the fourth inning.
Mariah DeBose and Wiedenhaupt had two hits each to lead the Cardinals. They also both drove in two runs each.
Six other Cardinals had one hit each.
Clarissa Valdez was the winner in the circle. She surrendered just one hit and struck out a pair in the five-inning game.
SATURDAY
Game 1
Cardinals 8, Western Nebraska 0
Action moved Saturday to Mesquite. The results stay the same.
In Game 1, Wiedenhaupt went 2-for-2 and drove in two runs. Abby Hollingsworth also drove in two runs with a double.
The Cardinals scored four runs in the third inning and added three more in the third.
Pena, pitching in relief of Haylie Jaime, got the win. She went 3.2 innings, striking out six and not allowing a hit.
Game 2
Cardinals 6, Western Nebraska 3
Western Nebraska carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Cardinals then responded with a pair of runs to tie the game. They added one more in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Sydney Murphy went 3-fo-3 to lead the Cardinals in a 10-hit effort. Murphy had a triple and double.
DeBose was 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs.
Valdez was the winning pitcher in a route-going performance. She fanned five and allowed seven hits.
