West Liberty University Athletics

Hilltopper Baseball Falls in Slugfest

Baseball | 3/16/2017 8:31:00 PM

Box Score WASHINGTON, Pa. – The West Liberty University baseball team dropped an 11-9 decision to Ashland (Ohio) here Thursday afternoon at a chilly Consol Energy Park.
Coach Eric Burkle's Hilltoppers (5-5) had jumped out to an early lead but found themselves on the short end of an 11-7 tally heading into the bottom of the ninth against the Eagles (6-9).
Justice Jackson and Ethan Estes opened the inning with back-to-back singles, chasing Ashland reliever Ryan Curtis. After pulling off a double steal, Jackson trotted home on an RBI single by Nolan Marcus, cutting the lead to 11-8 and bringing the tying run to the plate.
Unfortunately for the hosts, that's where their rally ran out of steam as Eagle reliever Sam Rice got the next batter to ground into a double play. Estes scored on the play, clearing the bases, and Rice fanned the next batter to end the game.
Estes drove in two runs with a double and a single while Jackson had a triple, single and RBI to pae an 11-hit attack for WLU. Bub Haddox had two hits and drove in a run while Coby Eckstein singled twice, giving the Hilltoppers four players with multi-hit games. Alex Rojas scored two runs and singled home another.
Weather permitting, the Hilltoppers are scheduled to open their Mountain East Conference slate on the road Saturday with a 1 p.m. twinbill at West Virginia Wesleyan.

BASEBALL
Ashland 11, West Liberty 9
Ashland 040 501 001 - 11 10 2
West Liberty 060 001 002 - 9 11 0
Ash: Smith (0SO, 0W), Gentile wp (2) (5SO, 2W), Curtis (9) (0SO, 0W), Rice (9) (1SO, 0W) and Laikos. Hartman D, 2S; Demb D, S, 4rbi; Mitte T, 3rbi; Sorma D, rbi; Barle S, rbi; Laikos D
WLU: Maloney (0SO, 3W), Stewart lp (4) (1SO, 1W), Padlow (5) (0SO, 2W), Naumann (6) (0SO, 2W), Retzer (6) (1SO, 0W), Pare (8) (2SO, 0W), Fuscardo (9) (0SO, 0W) and Rojas. Jackson D, S, rbi; Estes D, S, 2rbi; V.Haddox 2S, rbi; Eckstein 2S; Rojas S, rbi; Marcus S, rbi

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Players Mentioned

#7 Coby Eckstein: IF; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#2 Ethan Estes: IF; 5' 10"; Junior

#12 Justice Jackson: OF; 6' 1"; Junior

#10 Nolan Marcus: P/IF; 5' 8"; Junior

#4 Alex Rojas: C; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#7 Coby Eckstein
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: IF

#2 Ethan Estes
: 5' 10"; Junior
: IF

#12 Justice Jackson
: 6' 1"; Junior
: OF

#10 Nolan Marcus
: 5' 8"; Junior
: P/IF

#4 Alex Rojas
: 5' 11"; Senior
: C