Avon, Ohio – After falling by a score of 3-1 in the opening game of this weekend's 4-game series, the West Liberty University baseball team responded to close out Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win over Notre Dame in eight innings to earn the doubleheader split. The Hilltoppers began to piece together a rally in the top of the seventh in game one, however after scoring their lone run of the contest the comeback effort was cut short by a double play to end the contest. In game two the Black & Gold needed to overcome a total of nine base runners left stranded during the game, including two occasions where players were left standing on second and third, but a pair of runs in the top of the fifth were enough to push the game to extras and a sacrifice fly out to left field by Kobe Hill to score Trevor Thomas would be the deciding run in the top of the eighth.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 1, Notre Dame 3
Team Records: West Liberty 8-29 (4-13 MEC), Notre Dame 9-28 (6-15 MEC)
Attendance: 100
Pitching Decision: Win: Johnny Anservitz (2-6), Loss: Trevor Thomas (0-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• After going 3-up, 3-down in each of the first two innings of the contest, West Liberty recorded their first hit of the game in the top of the third as Adam Och knocked a double into right field. He would be left stranded in scoring position as the frame came to a close with back-to-back strikeouts, bringing Notre Dame's Johnny Anservitz tally to six through the first three innings.
• The Falcons struck first in the bottom of the third as following a leadoff walk their runner would eventually cross the plate on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.
• James Salvatori, who reached base via a walk, and Brad Goodyear, who reached base via a single to center field, would be left stranded on second and third base in the top of the fourth as a ground out to second base ended the frame.
• Kobe Hill, who hit a leadoff single up the middle to open the frame, eventually wound up standing on third later in the inning as he stole second base and took third on an error by the catcher, however he would be left stranded on base as an error ended the inning.
• NDC extended their lead to 3-0 as they plated one run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single through the left side, and one run in the bottom of the sixth as a WLU error fielding a sacrifice bunt allowed one run to score.
• The Hilltoppers found the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning as they started the frame with back-to-back singles by Noah Mildren and Will Balgo to put a pair of runners aboard with no outs. Hill reached on a fielder's choice play to make it runners on the corners with one out before an RBI single to center field scored Mildren to cut the deficit to 3-1. Notre Dame was able to close the game out the ensuing at-bat as they turned a 643 double play. 

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Adam Och: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI
Noah Mildren: 1-for-3, 1 run scored
Kobe Hill: 1-for-3, 1 stolen base
Trevor Thomas: 6.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 3, Notre Dame 2 (8 Innings)
Team Records: West Liberty 9-29 (5-13 MEC), Notre Dame 9-29 (6-16 MEC)
Attendance: 100
Pitching Decision: Win: Jacob Watson (2-2), Loss: Danny Brammer (1-4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• With a leadoff ground rule double down the right field line by Jacob Sherman and a single to the third baseman by Ryan Talbert, West Liberty placed runners on the corners with no outs to start game two, however a foul out and a 543 double play ended the scoring threat.
• Jacob Watson and the Hilltopper defense forced Notre Dame to go 3-up, 3-down in their first at-bat of the contest in the bottom of the first, before WLU left a pair of baserunners stranded on second and third in the top of the second. Will Balgo drew a hit by pitch and Noah Mildren doubled down the right field line to put the duo in scoring position, but NDC once again shut down the threat with a ground out back to the pitcher.
• The Falcons struck first in the bottom of the second with an RBI double to right center, and an RBI single through the right side making it a 2-0 ball game.
• For the second time in the contest the Black & Gold left base runners stranded on second and third base, as Trevor Thomas and Balgo notched back-to-back singles to start the top of the fourth and moved up a base in to scoring positions on a sacrifice bunt  by Kobe Hill, however the frame came to a close with a pop up to the catcher and a ground out back to the pitcher to keep the Hilltoppers scoreless.
• West Liberty was able to break through and put a pair of runs up on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning as a single through the left side by James Salvatori brought home Talbert, who has tripled to right center the prior at-bat, and a sacrifice fly out to left field by Thomas allowed Salvatori to cross the plate and even the game at two apiece.
• Salvatori knocked a 2-out triple to left center in the top of the seventh to give WLU a runner in scoring position and an opportunity to take the lead late, however a ground out ended the frame as each team left a pair of base runners stranded the final two and a half innings as the game entered extra innings tied at two.
• The Hilltoppers collected back-to-back singles by Thomas and Balgo to start the top of the eighth inning and a sacrifice fly out to left field by Hill allowed Thomas to tag up and score what would be the game-winning run to make it a 3-2 ball game.
• After a leadoff single up the middle for the Falcons, Watson and the WLU defense shut down the game as they posted three consecutive outs to secure the victory.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Ryan Talbert: 3-for-4, 1 triple, 1 run scored
James Salvatori: 2-for-4, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Trevor Thomas: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Jacob Watson: 8.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty and Notre Dame will wrap up their 4-game series at Mercy Health Stadium in Avon, Ohio, with first pitch times of 1 and 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.