West Liberty, W.Va. – In the first Mountain East Conference doubleheader of the season, the West Liberty University baseball team battled to a split with West Virginia State as they dropped game one 12-8 but bounced back for the 7-3 win in game two. An eight run inning proved to be too much to overcome in the first contest as WLU's comeback fell short as they left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. Then in game two Trevor Thomas picked up his second win of the year on the mound while James Salvatori and Brad Goodyear each homered to give the Hilltoppers the edge in the finale.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 8, West Virginia State 12
Team Records: West Liberty 3-10 (0-1 MEC), West Virginia State 7-7 (1-0 MEC)
Attendance: 322
Pitching Decision: Win: Colin Bryant (1-0), Loss: Brady Harmon (1-2), Save: Tyrus Baumgardner (2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Virginia State opened the scoring in game one with a run crossing the plate on a groundout to shortstop in the top of the first, making it a 1-0 game.
• After going down in order in the first inning, West Liberty broke through and took the lead in the bottom of the second as Kobe Hill singled to center field to score Will Balgo and Luke Marsh hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Trevor Thomas and make it a 2-1 contest.
• The Yellow Jackets responded and scored eight runs in the top of the third with a 3- run homerun, a pair of singles bringing home one and two runs, and then a 2-RBI double to left field to make it a 9-2 lead for WVSU.
• The Hilltoppers got two runs back in the bottom of the third as Balgo hit a fly ball to center field to score James Salvatori and Hill hit a single up the middle to score Thomas who cut the deficit to 9-4.
• West Virginia State added one run in the top of the fifth with a double to left field.
• WLU cut their deficit to just two runs as they scored four in the bottom of the sixth. Salvatori knocked a double to left field to score Noah Mildren while Thomas hit a single to right field to score Jacob Sherman, and Brad Goodyear hit a 2-RBI double to center field.
• The Yellow Jackets closed the scoring in game one with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh as they saw one run cross the plate on a single to the shortstop and another on a double to left field, making it 12-8 as the Hilltoppers left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
James Salvatori: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base
Brad Goodyear: 2-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBI
Kobe Hill: 2-for-2, 1 walk, 2 RBI, 1 stolen base
Greg Geis: 2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 7, West Virginia State 3
Team Records: West Liberty 4-10 (1-1 MEC), West Virginia State 7-8 (1-1 MEC)
Attendance: 322
Pitching Decision: Win: Tanner Pelaez (2-2), Loss: Riley Vadasz (0-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Virginia State was the first team to score again in game two as they hit a solo homerun to make it 1-0.
• West Liberty took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the first as James Salvatori hit a solo homerun and Brad Goodyear singled to center field to score Ryan Talbert to make it 2-1.
• The Yellow Jackets regained the lead in the top of the second with a single to left field scoring one and a sacrifice fly to center field scoring one to make it a 3-2 contest.
• A double by Salvatori, who also came around to score on the play due to an error by the center fielder, evened the game at three apiece in the bottom of the second.
• WLU took the lead for good in the bottom of the third as Goodyear hit a solo homerun to give them the 4-3 lead.
• West Liberty added one run in the bottom of the fourth as Salvatori reached safely on an error while Noah Mildren scored after hitting a triple earlier in the inning.
• The Hilltoppers ended the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as Trevor Thomas hit a 2-RBI single to score Salvatori and Talbert, giving WLU the 7-3 advantage.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
James Salvatori: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 homerun, 1 walk, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored
Brad Goodyear: 2-for-4, 1 homerun 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Noah Mildren: 1-for-3, 1 triple, 1 run scored
Tanner Pelaez: 6.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs allowed, 2 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will remain at home on Sunday afternoon as they are set to host Charleston for a doubleheader set for 1 and 4 p.m. at Kovalick Field.