Baseball | 2/20/2016 11:15:00 PM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CARY, N.C. – The West Liberty University baseball team got its season off to a flying start here Saturdayafternoon by sweeping a doubleheader from St. Augustine's (N.C.) by scores of 4-2 and 3-2.
Pitching was the name of the game for Coach Eric Burkle's Hilltoppers as Mark Smyth and Greg Stagani each seemed in mid-season form while posting complete-game wins. Stagani was especially impressive in the nightcap, which went into extra innings before West Liberty was able to push across the game-winning run in the top of the eighth.
The host Falcons (0-7) got to Stagani for two runs on three hits and a base on balls in the top of the first but the Hilltopper ace slammed the door the rest of the way.
The St. Augustine's hitters never got another ball out of the infield as Stagani retired 22 of the last 23 batters he faced. The Falcons' only baserunner the rest of the afternoon came with two out in the bottom of the sixth when Carey Cheek reached on an infield error.
Stagani finished with 12 strikeouts and one walk but still needed a little help from his teammates to get the win.
West Liberty got an unearned run in the top of the third to cut the lead to 2-1 and tied the game in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI double by Ethan Estes. The Hilltoppers loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the top of the eighth. Estes brought home what proved to be the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to center and Stagani struck out the side in the bottom of the frame to seal the nod.
In the opener, Smyth went the distance, striking out four and issuing only one walk while surrendering single tallies in the fourth and fifth frames.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the sixth, the WLU bats went to work. Jordan Meyer led things off with a triple into the left-centerfield gap and trotted home with the tying run when Bub Haddox singled up the middle. Haddox eventually scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball and Tim Hughes tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single to right. Meyer had two singles to go along with his triple while D.J. Busby had a double and two singles. Haddox also had a pair of base knocks as the Hilltoppers finished with 10 hits.
West Liberty and St. Augustine's return to the diamond on Sunday for a 1 p.m. twinbill.
West Liberty 4, St. Augustine's 2
West Liberty 001 003 0 – 4 10 0
St. Augustine's 000 110 0 – 2 7 0
WLU: Smyth wp (4SO, 1W) and Carranza. Meyer T, 2S, rbi; Busby D, 2S; Haddox 2S, rbi
StA: Brassington lp (3SO, 0W) and Garcia. Batts D, S; Lopez S, rbi; Carter S, rbi; Cheek D
West Liberty 3, St. Augustine's 2
West Liberty 001 001 01 – 3 3 1
St. Augustine's 200 000 00 – 2 3 2
WLU: Stagani wp (12SO, 1W) and Carranza. Estes D, 2rbi; Busby S; Hughes S
StA: Carter lp (6SO, 5W), Cheek (8) (0SO, 0W) and Garcia. Carter D, 2rbi; Cheek S; Thomas S
