West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team wrapped up a 4-game, non-conference series on Monday afternoon as they fell to Salem by scores of 17-2 and 10-6. The Tigers, who were receiving votes in today's release of the NCBWA's Atlantic Region Top-10, seized the momentum immediately in both contests as they plated seven first inning runs in game one and six first inning runs in game two. The Hilltoppers challenged SU in the second contest, cutting the deficit to three midways through and hit a 3-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 4-run margin.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 2, Salem 17
Team Records: West Liberty 8-26 (4-12 MEC), Salem 23-13
Attendance: 59
Pitching Decision: Win: Travis Lavendier (5-0), Loss: Tanner Pelaez (3-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Salem broke the game open from the start as they scored seven runs off five hits in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on a double up the middle, one run on a single through the right side, one run on a bases loaded walk, three runs on a bases clearing double to left center, and one run on a single up the middle.
• Noah Mildren hit a leadoff single through the right side and Brad Goodyear drew a 2-out walk to give West Liberty a pair of base runners in the bottom of the first, however Travis Lavendier recorded his third strikeout of the frame for Salem to leave the Hilltopper runners stranded.
• The Tigers added to their lead in the top of the second, aided by a pair of WLU errors as they scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error to make it a 9-0 ball game.
• The teams remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Salem once again stretched their lead as they scored one run on single and then the ensuing at-bat a double to left center brought home two as their lead grew to 12-0.
• The Hilltoppers broke through and found the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning, a 2-run homerun over the right field fence by Mildren cut the deficit to 12-2.
• Both teams went 3-up, 3-down in the sixth inning before the Tigers added to their lead one final time in game one. They scored one run off a bases loaded walk, one run off a single to left field, one run off a fielder's choice, another run off a bases loaded walk, and one run off a single through the right side as the margin grew to 15 runs with a 17-2 score.
• In the bottom of the seventh Kobe Hill recorded a leadoff single through the left side and advanced as he stole second, however he was left stranded as Salem's Lavendier ended the contest with his 11^th strikeout.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Noah Mildren: 2-for-4, 1 homerun, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Kobe Hill: 1-for-2, 1 walk, 1 stolen base
Luke Marsh: 1-for-3, 1 run scored
Colby Conn: 2.2 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, 0 earned runs allowed, 2 strikeouts
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 6, Salem 10
Team Records: West Liberty 8-27 (4-12 MEC), Salem 24-13
Attendance: 73
Pitching Decision: Win: Connor Thiele (2-0), Loss: Drake Dobson (0-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Similar to game one, Salem broke the game open with another big top of the first as they scored six runs in the frame. They scored one run off a single to left field, two runs off an error, and three runs off a homerun to left center.
• After West Liberty went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the first, they responded to score a pair of runs in the second as Trevor Thomas hit a shot over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 6-2.
• In the bottom of the third the Hilltoppers tacked on another run as James Salvatori connected on a double to left field, scoring Garrett Scott after he reached base by being hit by a pitch as the leadoff, making it a 6-3 ball game.
• Mason Bille was in command on the mound since he entered in the top of the second, as he and the WLU defense forced Salem to go down in order in three consecutive innings. SU wouldn't tally another hit until two outs in the top of the fifth when they scored three runs on three hits, scoring one run on a homerun over the right field fence, one run on a single to right center, and one run on a throwing error to push their lead to 9-3.
• Each team was held scoreless and without a hit the next inning and a half until Salem notched their final run of the day with a solo homerun over the right field fence from the Tiger's leadoff hitter in the top of the seventh.
• West Liberty wouldn't go down without a fight as they lit a spark in the bottom of the seventh as the Hilltoppers recorded their second homerun of the contest when Ryan Talbert sent a 3-run blast over the right field fence to bring the score within four (10-6) at the close of the game. 

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Trevor Thomas: 2-for-3, 1 homerun, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Ryan Talbert: 1-for-3, 1 homerun, 1 walk, 3 RBI, 1 run scored
James Salvatori: 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Mason Bille: 6.0 innings pitched, 4 hits allowed, 3 earned runs allowed, 3 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty concludes a 3-day homestand on Tuesday afternoon as they welcome another non-conference foe to the hilltop as (RV) Seton Hill visits town. The Hilltoppers and Griffins are set for a 3 p.m. first pitch for a single nine inning contest at Kovalick Field.