Frostburg, Md. – The West Liberty University baseball team fell in both games of Monday's MEC North doubleheader, dropping games by scores of 5-2 and 4-1. The Hilltoppers fell victims of a 4-game sweep to the Bobcats, as FSU used a 3-run inning in both contests to power themselves to the wins at Bob Wells Field.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 2, Frostburg State 5
Team Records: West Liberty 7-22 (4-11 MEC), Frostburg State 20-7 (13-2 MEC)
Attendance: 178
Pitching Decision: Win: Max Proctor (4-1), Loss: Tanner Pelaez (3-4), Save Ethan Kiple (4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• With Jacob Sherman reaching as the lead off man by way of an error and James Salvatori hitting a single to the shortstop 2-at bats later, West Liberty recorded a pair of base runners in the top of the first but were unable to score as they were left stranded as two ground outs ended the frame.
• Tanner Pelaez and the Hilltopper defense sent Frostburg State down in order in the bottom of the first and forced the Bobcats to leave the bases loaded in the second inning, however FSU would ultimately strike first with a 3-run homerun in the third.
• WLU got one run back in the top of the fourth as the inning began with a lead off double to right center by Will Balgo, and he would cross the plate for West Liberty's first run of the game two at-bats later as Brad Goodyear singled to left field to cut the deficit to 3-1.
• The Black & Gold tacked on another run in the top of the fifth inning as Balgo reached base via an error by the second baseman, allowing Ryan Talbert to score as he also reached on an error earlier in the frame, to cut the deficit to 3-2.
• Frostburg State capped the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth with one run on a single to left field and one run on a sacrifice fly out to center field, making it a 5-2 ball game.
• The Bobcats closed out the game by sending the Hilltoppers down in order in the top of the seventh.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Kobe Hill: 2-for-2, 1 walk, 1 stolen base
James Salvatori: 2-for-4
Will Balgo: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Brad Goodyear: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Tanner Pelaez: 6.0 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 1, Frostburg State 4
Team Records: West Liberty 7-23 (4-12 MEC), Frostburg State 21-7 (14-2 MEC)
Attendance: 198
Pitching Decision: Win: Jack Ray (1-0), Loss: Drake Dobson (0-1), Save: Ben Vok (1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After Kobe Hill hit a lead off single to right field to open the contest, Ryan Talbert drew a walk and Will Balgo was hit by a pitch to load the bases for West Liberty in the top of the first, however a fielder's choice hit to the shortstop ended the WLU scoring opportunity with no runs crossing the plate.
• Frostburg State was able to strike first in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single to left field making it a 1-0 game.
• The Hilltoppers were able to get the run back in the top of the third inning and tie the game at one as a single by Trevor Thomas brought home Talbert, who had drawn a lead off walk to get the frame started.
• In the bottom of the fourth inning the Bobcats scored three runs off three hits but left a pair of base runners stranded. While a lead off double to right field got things going, FSU scored one run on a fly out to left field, and a pair of runs on a double to left center to make it a 4-1 contest.
• Thomas took the mound in relief in the bottom of the fourth and recorded the final out of the inning and held the Bobcats to only one hit the remainder of the contest, however West Liberty was unable to spark momentum and a rally as they were only able to record a single hit in each of the top of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
• Prior to a single to center field for Balgo in the top of the seventh, Talbert was able to reach base on an error by the shortstop, giving WLU a pair of base runners with the tying run up to bat with two outs however the game came to a close with a fly out to right field.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
James Salvatori: 2-for-4
Noah Mildren: 1-for-1, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases
Will Balgo: 1-for-3
Trevor Thomas: 2.1 innings pitched, 1 hit allowed, 0 runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will remain on the road as they travel to Indiana (PA) for a single 9-inning contest on Wednesday, April 10, after the match-up was previously rescheduled on two occasions. The game will get underway at 2 p.m. at Owen J. Dougherty Field in Indiana, Pennsylvania.