Baseball | 5/11/2018 10:19:00 PM

Box Score
    BECKLEY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team had its chances but couldn't capitalize here Friday night in dropping a 6-2 decision to Charleston in the second round of the Mountain East Conference tournament.
    Coach Eric Burkle's Hilltoppers (21-27) return to Linda K. Epling Stadium Saturday at 3:30 p.m. to take on Notre Dame (20-31) in an elimination game. The Falcons stayed alive on Friday with a 9-8 win against West Virginia State.
    West Liberty starter Parker Dyson found himself battling command issues and a hot-hitting Charleston (32-20) squad from the very first pitch.
    The reigning NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Week was touched up for 9 hits, 4 walks, 3 stolen bases, a balk and a passed ball through first 5 innings.
    Nevertheless, the lanky lefthander made enough quality pitches to hold UC to single tallies in each of the first three innings, keeping the Hilltoppers within striking distance.
    West Liberty gave itself numerous opportunities to jump out to an early lead on Friday but couldn't come up with a clutch hit at the right time.
    The Hilltoppers got runners to second or third in each of the first six innings only to go 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Black and Gold finally broke the scoring ice in the top of the sixth by taking advantage of two errors by the Golden Eagles, cutting the lead to 3-1.
    Unfortunately, a pair of WLU errors in the bottom of the frame helped Charleston put three more runs on the board and open up a 6-1 lead.
    The Hilltoppers didn't go quietly. Ethan Estes slammed a solo homer in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-2 and West Liberty mounted one last surge in the top of the ninth.
    After singles by Nolan Marcus and Bub Haddox had put runners on first and second with one out, Estes walked to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate. Charleston reliever Hunter Townsend struck out the next two batters to end the game.
    Justice Jackson tripled, doubled and scored a run while Haddox added a pair of base knocks for the hard-luck Hilltoppers, who left 11 runners on base and finished the night 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
    Charleston advances to play Shepherd (36-13) in Saturday's winners bracket final at noon. Shepherd eliminated Concord, 14-5, in Friday's other tournament game.
  West Liberty                               000 001 100 - 2    8  2
Charleston                                   111 003 00x - 6  12  2
     WLU: Dyson lp (4SO, 5W), Blomquist (6) (0SO, 0W) and D.Davis. Jackson T, D; V.Haddox 2S; Estes HR, rbi
     UC: Carr wp (3SO, 4W), Harris (7) (0SO, 0W), Townsend (9) (2SO, 1W) and S.Davis. S.Davis 3S; Cartt D, S, rbi; Bauer D, S, rbi; Arrington 2S; Hunt S, rbi