CADIZ, Ohio - The West Liberty University baseball team finished its weekend series against Pitt-Johnstown with a split on Sunday afternoon at Mazeroski Field.

Game 1: UPJ (3) - WLU (6)
After the Mountain Cats struck first with a two-run top the first, the Hilltoppers answered an inning later with a three-spot in the second and held the lead the rest of the way. 

Noah Mildren drove home Trevor Thomas, who led the inning off with a double, on a one-out single up the middle to get the scoring started. Ty Helmke followed two batters later with a two-run double in the left center field gap to push the 'Toppers ahead.

Helmke and Mildren were back at it in the fourth, as Mildren led the inning off with a single and was sacrificed into scoring position before Helmke laced his third hit of the day up the middle to bring him across the plate.

Pitt-Johnstown got back on the board with an unearned run in the fifth to make it 4-3, but West Liberty was right there to answer in the bottom of the inning with a pair of insurance runs. Thomas doubled home James Salvatori, who reached on a bunt single, and Garrett Scott followed by driving in Thomas with a single to right center the next at bat.

Drake Dobson started and went four innings to pick up the win for the Hilltoppers. Bryce Winter threw two no-hit innings out of the bullpen and Thomas closed the game out for his first save in the Black and Gold.

Helmke ended the game 3-for-3 with a double, three RBI, and a walk, reaching base all four at bats. Talbert and Thomas both charted 2-for-4 outings, Thomas added a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Mildren went 2-for-3 in the game with two runs and an RBI out of the eight spot. Eight players recorded a hit for WLU.

Game 2: UPJ (7) - WLU (5)
West Liberty scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first, but that would be all the offense from both sides through an early pitchers dual between Ben Tomb (UPJ) and Ethan Conley (WLU). 

The Mountain Cats broke the ice with two runs in the fourth taking advantage of the lone Hilltopper error of the game, then added a four-spot in the top of the fifth to take control of the game.

A bases loaded walk by Will Balgo got the Hilltoppers back on the board in the bottom of the fifth, then they attempted a late rally but it would not be enough. 

Pitt-Johnstown added a key run in the top of the seventh, but Brady Harmon was able to finish his relief outing with a strikeout stranding two Mountain Cats and giving West Liberty some momentum heading into their final at bat.

The Hilltoppers rallied for two runs with no outs after back-to-back walks started the inning and run scoring singles from Ryan Talbert and Kayne McGee followed to make it 7-4 and bring the tying run to the plate.

A wild pitch scored Alex Hawkins, who pinch ran for McGee, and a walk to James Salvatori put the tying run on base and the game-wining run at the plate with no outs. The Mountain Cats made a pitching change and their closer came in to shut the door downing each of the next three Hilltoppers to end the game.

The top three spots in the lineup for WLU scored four of its five runs. Ty Helmke finished 2-for-3 with a double, walk, and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. 

Conley was dealt the loss on the rubber, while striking out four over 4.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned). 

Up Next
West Liberty will be at Shepherd on Tuesday, March 14 for a doubleheader before opening conference play that weekend at West Virginia State and Charleston.