West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team wrapped up their first weekend of home contests with a pair of losses to Charleston on Sunday afternoon as they fell by scores of 12-2 and 22-11. After the Hilltoppers held a 1-0 lead through two innings of play in game one, the Golden Eagles scored in each of the final five innings and earned a double digit victory. The second game saw a combined 33 runs and 24 hits while UC scored in each inning en route to their win.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 2, Charleston 12
Team Records: West Liberty 4-11 (1-2 MEC), Charleston 13-4 (3-0 MEC)
Attendance: 78
Pitching Decision: Win: Trace Hartman (2-0), Loss: Evan Barnes (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty struck first in game one as Trevor Thomas reached base on an error by the shortstop, allowing for Jacob Sherman to cross the plate and make it a 1-0 ball game.
• Both teams went 3-up, 3-down in the second inning and Charleston broke through in the top of the third as they took a 3-1 lead. They scored one run on a double down the left field line, one run on a double to right field, and one run on a fielder's choice.
• The Golden Eagles extended their lead in the top of the fourth as they scored one run single up the middle, and then made it a 5-1 game with a runner scoring from third as a rundown occurred between first and second base.
• The Hilltoppers got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as they saw a pair of batters reach base, and Brad Goodyear eventually came around to score on an error by the left fielder on an at-bat by Noah Mildren.
• UC extended their lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth with one run scoring on a wild pitch and then a 2-RBI single.
• After WLU went down in order in the bottom of the fifth, Charleston scored one run to make it a 9-2 contest.
• The Black & Gold loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth as Goodyear hit a single to second base, Kobe Hill drew a walk, and Mildren was hit by a pitch, however they were left stranded following a fly out to left field.
• The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to ten in the top of the seventh with a 2-RBI triple to right center and a fly out allowed a run to score from third.
• Ryan Talbert was the lone Hilltopper to reach base in the bottom of the seventh as he was hit by a pitch, but they were unable to mount a rally in the final frame.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Brad Goodyear: 2-for-3, 1 run scored
Jacob Sherman: 1-for-3, 1 walk, 1 run scored
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 11, Charleston 22
Team Records: West Liberty 4-12 (1-3 MEC), Charleston 13-4 (3-0 MEC)
Attendance: 94
Pitching Decision: Win: Andrew Gormley (2-2), Loss: Joey Medkeff (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Charleston opened the high scoring affair in game two, with three runs out of the gates in the top of the first inning as they scored one run on a player stealing third and advancing home after a throwing error, one run on a single through the left side, and one run on a balk to make it 3-0.
• West Liberty scored one run in the bottom of the first as Ryan Talbert walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and eventually came around to score as Will Balgo reached safely on an error.
• The Golden Eagles added four runs in the top of the second inning as they scored one run on a throwing error, one run on a double down the right field line, and two runs on a single to make it 7-1.
• The Hilltoppers went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the second and UC once again extended their lead with five runs in the top of the third. They scored one on a single up the middle, and four on a grand slam to make it a 12-1 advantage.
• WLU got the offense going again in the bottom of the third as a single up the middle for Talbert scored Noah Mildren and a double down the left field line for Trevor Thomas scored James Salvatori and Talbert to cut the deficit to 12-4.
• Meanwhile, Charleston continued their momentum at the plate as one run scored on a double to left center and another as the runner stole home to push their lead to 14-4.
• Following back-to-back singles by Brad Goodyear and Mildren, Jacob Sherman reached safely on a fielder's choice to score Goodyear and bring the score to 14-5.
• UC added two runs on a double to right center and one on a passed ball as they increased their lead to 17-5.
• West Liberty trimmed the Charleston lead in half in the bottom of the fifth as Balgo belted a 2-run homerun, Hunter White scored on a bases loaded walk drawn by Mildren, Kobe Hill crossed the plate on a passed ball, and Goodyear and Mildren put runs on the board as Salvatori hit a fly ball to center field to make it a 17-11 contest.
• The Golden Eagles scored one run on a single to left field as they extended the lead to 18-11.
• The Hilltoppers left two runners stranded in the bottom of the sixth while UC was able to put their lead back to double digits as they blasted their second grand slam of the game over the fence to make it a 22-11 game.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Trevor Thomas: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 homerun, 4 RBI, 1 run scored
Ryan Talbert: 1-for-3, 1 walk, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
Craig Wilson: 1.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run allowed, 2 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will hit the road for their next six games, starting with a doubleheader at California (PA) on Wednesday afternoon. The Hilltoppers and Vulcans are slated for a 1 and 4 p.m. first pitch at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.