Buckhannon, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team will bring home a 3-1 record on the road this past weekend as they earned a split at West Virginia Wesleyan on Monday afternoon, winning game one 9-0 before falling 10-8 in game two. The Hilltoppers were in control in the opener as they notched 15 hits, which included a pair of homeruns from the reigning MEC Player of the Week, James Salvatori, while Tanner Pelaez tossed a shutout. The Bobcats were aided with a grand slam in game two as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, however WLU battled back as they scored five runs between the sixth and seventh innings while also having the tying run standing on second base as the game ended.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 9, West Virginia Wesleyan 0
Team Records: West Liberty 7-14 (4-3 MEC), West Virginia Wesleyan 8-11 (3-2 MEC)
Attendance: N/A
Pitching Decision: Win: Tanner Pelaez (3-2), Loss: Broderick Rohrbaugh (3-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• After each team left one base runner stranded in the first inning, it was West Liberty that struck first as Brad Goodyear singled to right center to bring home Trevor Thomas who had doubled to left field the prior at bat, making it a 1-0 ball game in the top of the second.
• West Virginia Wesleyan doubled to put a runner in scoring position, however Tanner Pelaez and the Hilltopper defense left him stranded as WLU extended the lead once again in the top of the third. Following a leadoff double to left field, James Salvatori blasted the ball over the left field fence to make it 3-0. Later in the frame Luke Marsh reached on an error, allowing for Goodyear and Kobe Hill to cross the plate to push the lead to 5-0.
• It wasn't until the top of the fifth when the Black & Gold tacked on another run as Goodyear knocked the ball over the left field fence to make the score 6-0.
• WLU kept the Bobcats off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning after they placed runners on second and third, ending the frame as they caught the runner in a run down between second and third.
• West Liberty scored three 2-out runs in the top of the seventh which started with a single by Jacob Sherman through the left side of the infield, as he was then able to round the bases to home on a triple down the right field line by Ryan Talbert to make it 7-0. Salvatori then put a bow in the first contest of the day as he hit his second homerun of the day, clearing the left field fence once again to make it 9-0.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Jacob Sherman: 3-for-5, 1 double, 1 run scored
Ryan Talbert: 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
James Salvatori: 2-for-5, 2 homeruns, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored
Brad Goodyear: 2-for-2, 1 homerun, 2 walks, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored
Tanner Pelaez: 7.0 inning pitched, 4 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 8, West Virginia Wesleyan 10
Team Records: West Liberty 7-15 (4-4 MEC), West Virginia Wesleyan 9-11 (4-2 MEC)
Attendance: N/A
Pitching Decision: Win: Evan Barnes (0-2), Loss: Hunter Eplin (3-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After West Liberty left one base runner stranded in the top of the first, it was West Virginia Wesleyan who struck first and in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. The Bobcats scored six runs in the inning, with the major spark being a grand slam to left field.
• The Hilltoppers got one run back in the top of the second as Kobe Hill doubled to left center and was brought home on a single to right field by Noah Mildren the ensuing at-bat to cut the deficit to 6-1.
• WLU trimmed the deficit down to 6-3 in the top of the third as the inning was started with a leadoff double by Jacob Sherman to right field. He was brought home two at-bats later as James Salvatori tripled to left center field. The ensuing at-bat Will Balgo hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Salvatori to cross the plate.
• The Bobcats extended their lead back to six (9-3) in the bottom of the third with a 2-RBI triple and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded.
• WVWC added another run in the bottom of the fourth, as a leadoff triple led to the run being scored during the ensuing at-bat to make it 10-3.
• Both teams left a pair of base runners stranded in the fifth inning before West Liberty began the rally in the top of the sixth as Mildren hit a single up the middle to score Hill and cut the deficit to 10-4.
• The rally continued for WLU in the top of the seventh but came up just short. Their first run of the frame came as Goodyear was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Salvatori to cross the plate. The next at-bat Hill singled to the shortstop to score Balgo as the bases remained loaded. Trevor Thomas was the next to make the sprint home on a passed ball and make it a 10-7 game. The Hilltoppers final run came on a sacrifice fly by Mildren to right field, scoring Brad Goodyear, however the tying run would be left stranded on second base as West Virginia Wesleyan notched the final out on a fly out to left field.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
James Salvatori: 3-for-4, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
Kobe Hill: 3-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
Noah Mildren: 2-for-3, 3 RBI
Mason Bille: 2.1 innings pitched, 2 hits allowed, 1 earned run allowed, 4 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will return home to hilltop on Friday afternoon as they are set to host Glenville State. The Hilltoppers and Pioneers are set for a 1 and 4 p.m. first pitch at Kovalick Field.