Elkins, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team secured their first sweep in conference play of the 2024 season as they went on the road to defeat Davis & Elkins by scores of 16-2 and 15-0 on Sunday afternoon. The Hilltoppers, who combined for 31 runs and 37 hits in the two games, notched season-highs for runs scored and hits in a game as they reached double digit runs for the fourth and fifth times this year.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 16, Davis & Elkins 2
Team Records: West Liberty 5-14 (2-3 MEC), Davis & Elkins 0-19 (0-3 MEC)
Attendance: 95
Pitching Decision: Win: Brady Harmon (2-2), Loss: Ethan Marshall (0-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty got things going early as Ryan Talbert sent the ball over the right field fence in just the second at-bat of the contest. Then later in the inning Brad Goodyear hit a single to shallow center field to bring home Will Balgo and make it a 2-0 ball game.
• The Hilltoppers tacked on another run in the top of the second as a sacrifice fly by Jacob Sherman to right field brought home Noah Mildren, who started the inning with a leadoff single through the right side, to bring the score to 3-0.
• After each team went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the second and top of the third, Davis & Elkins scored their lone two runs of the afternoon in the bottom of the third as they knocked a 2-RBI double to right center to cut the WLU lead to 3-2.
• The Black & Gold then responded with four runs off four hits in the top of the fourth to stretch their lead out. After Mildren once again opened the frame with a leadoff infield single to first base, he then later scored on a ground out by Talbert to make it a 4-2 game. Luke Marsh crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it 5-2, and then Brad Goodyear knocked a 2-RBI single into shallow right center to score Balgo and Trevor Thomas to extend the lead to 7-2.
• Brady Harmon continued to keep the Senator bats quiet as he notched a second hitless inning on the mound in the bottom of the fourth before WLU broke things open in the top of the sixth.
• In the top of the sixth West Liberty exploded for seven 2-out runs to push their lead to 14-2. The first run came as Mildren singled to right field to score Balgo who hit a leadoff double. The next at-bat Marsh hit a 2-RBI single to right center to score Kobe Hill and Mildren. Following a pitching change for D&E a pair of singles by Sherman and Talbert loaded the bases for James Salvatori who proceeded to blast the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam.
• After Harmon posted another 3-up, 3-down frame in the bottom of the sixth, the Hilltoppers concluded the scoring in game one with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.  A triple by Hill to left center scored Goodyear and then a single to right field by Marsh capped the scoring as Hill crossed the plate to make it 16-2.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Luke Marsh: 4-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored
James Salvatori: 3-for-5, 1 homerun, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base
Will Balgo: 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 runs scored
Brady Harmon: 6.0 innings pitched, 4 hits allowed, 2 earned runs allowed, 5 strikeouts
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 15, Davis & Elkins 0
Team Records: West Liberty 6-14 (3-3 MEC), Davis & Elkins 0-20 (0-4 MEC)
Attendance: 95
Pitching Decision: Win: Jacob Watson (1-0), Loss: Jake Garrett (0-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• West Liberty continued their momentum from game one as they plated two early runs in the top of the first inning as Brad Goodyear reached base safely on an error, allowing for Jacob Sherman and Adam Och to score and make it 2-0.
• Jacob Watson and the Hilltopper defense forced Davis & Elkins to leave a base runner stranded in both the bottom of the first and second innings before the Black & Gold extended their lead in the top of the third. Both Will Balgo and Goodyear came home as Noah Mildren and Luke Marsh drew back-to-back walks to make it a 4-0 ball game. Then a 2-RBI single up the middle by Sherman scored Kobe Hill and Mildren. The fifth run of the inning came as James Salvatori reached base on an error, allowing Marsh to cross the plate to run their lead to 7-0.
• After the Senators once again left a runner stranded WLU tacked on another three runs in the top of the fourth. A double to left center by Mildren brought home Balgo and Goodyear. Then Mildren came around to score and make it a 10-0 game as Sherman singled through the right side.
• The scoring came to a close for West Liberty in the top of the fifth as a double by Hill to left center scored Balgo and Thomas to make it 12-0. Later, Sherman cleared the bases with a double to right center to score Goodyear, Hill and Mildren as the lead was pushed to 15-0.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Jacob Sherman: 4-for-4, 1 double, 6 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Noah Mildren: 2-for-2, 1 double, 2 walks, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored
Brad Goodyear: 2-for-3, 1 walk, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored
Jacob Watson: 5.0 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 3 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will continue their weekend in MEC action as they visit West Virginia Wesleyan tomorrow afternoon. The Hilltoppers and Bobcats are slated for a 1 and 4 p.m. first pitch at Hank Ellis Field in Buckhannon, West Virginia.