Washington, Pa. – The West Liberty University baseball team fell twice in Wednesday afternoon's non-conference doubleheader at Wild Things Park as California (PA) won by scores of 7-4 and 15-4. Led by James Salvatori who went 4-for-4 at the plate, the Hilltoppers led early and overcame a 4-run top of the fourth by the Vulcans but were unable to fend off Cal in game one. In game two the California (PA) bats exploded for 18 hits, seven of which were extra base hits, while West Liberty only managed seven total in the contest.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 4, California (PA) 7
Team Records: West Liberty 4-13 (1-3 MEC), California (PA) 9-4 (0-0 PSAC)
Attendance: 43
Pitching Decision: Win: Sam Georgiana (1-0), Loss: Craig Wilson (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty struck first in the opening game of the doubleheader as James Salvatori notched the first hit of the contest with a double to left field and Will Balgo followed it up with a double of his own down the left field line to score him and make it 1-0 after the top of the first.
• Mason Billie held California (PA) without a hit the first two innings of the contest as the Hilltoppers extended their lead in the top of the third with a Salvatori homerun to left field, scoring Ryan Talbert who doubled to right field the previous at-bat, to make it a 3-0 ball game.
• The Vulcans notched their first two hits of the game in the bottom of the third but were unable to put any runs on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth as they plated four. They scored on an RBI single to left field, a fielder's choice, a bases loaded walk, and an infield single to second base to take a 4-3 lead.
• WLU evened the game at four apiece in the top of the fifth with an RBI single to left field by Salvatori as he brought home Luke Marsh who knocked a leadoff single to right field to get the inning started.
• Both teams were scoreless while collecting one hit in both the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth innings before Cal capped the scoring in the match-up with three runs in the bottom of the sixth as they scored one run on a single up the middle and two on a single to right field to make it 7-4.
• In the top of the seventh Talbert recorded a single to right field and Salvatori singled to right center to give West Liberty a pair of base runners with two outs, however California (PA) ended the game on a ground out to the shortstop.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
James Salvatori: 4-for-4, 1 double, 1 homerun, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored
Ryan Talbert: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 run scored
Will Balgo: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI
Mason Billie: 3.0 innings pitched, 2 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 2 strikeouts
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 4, California (PA) 15
Team Records: West Liberty 4-14 (1-3 MEC), California (PA) 10-4 (0-0 PSAC)
Attendance: 52
Pitching Decision: Win: Luke Treloar (1-2), Loss: Luke Foley (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Liberty was unable to take advantage of a pair of baserunners in the top of the first inning as Jacob Sherman hit a leadoff single to center field and Ryan Talbert was hit by a pitch, before two strikeouts and a fly out to left field ended the frame.
• California (PA) scored three runs in both the bottom of the first and second innings as they built an early 6-0 advantage. In the top of the first they scored one run on a double down the left field line before a 2-run homerun went over the fence to make it 3-0. Then later in the bottom of the second they scored two on a triple to right center and one run on a double to left field as it became 6-0.
• The Hilltoppers trimmed the deficit in half in the top of the third as Trevor Thomas hit an RBI single to left field to score Talbert who reached base on a leadoff bunt-single. Will Balgo crossed the plate on a bases loaded walk and Thomas scored on a passed ball to make it a 6-3 ball game.
• Aaron Flowers entered in relief for WLU in the bottom of the third as the Vulcans were held without a hit in the inning for the first time in game two.
• The defenses continued to gain more momentum as West Liberty went 3-up, 3-down in the top of the fourth and California (PA) was held with just one hit in the bottom of the fourth as they maintained a 6-3 lead.
• A pair of 2-out walks drawn by Garrett Scott and Kobe Hill gave WLU two baserunners, however they would be left stranded as the inning came to a close with a strikeout.
• The Vulcans once again scored a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth as one run crossed the plate on a single to left field and then two on a single to left field the very next at-bat to push their lead to 9-3.
• The Hilltoppers got one run back in the top of the sixth as Balgo singled to left field to score Sherman to make it 9-4, but in the bottom of the frame Cal plated six runs off five hits. They scored one run on a sacrifice fly to center field, one on a bases loaded walk, three on a bases clearing double to left field, and then one on a double to right center to make it 15-4 entering the final inning.
• The Vulcans ended the game by sending the Hilltoppers down in order in the top of the seventh.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Will Balgo: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Kobe Hill: 1-for-1, 2 walks, 1 RBI
Ryan Talbert: 1-for-2, 1 walk, 1 run scored
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will return to Mountain East Conference action as they visit Davis & Elkins for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. The Hilltoppers and Senators are slated for a 1 and 4 p.m. first pitch at Harpertown Field in Elkins, West Virginia.