West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team regrouped following a 15-1 loss to Wheeling in game one of Friday's MEC doubleheader at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex as they held off the Cardinals for a 7-6 win in game two for the split. Following a solo homerun by James Salvatori to tie the single-season program record, WU plated four runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good and they broke the game open with nine more in the third to earn the series-opening win. In the second game, the Hilltopper bats came to life as 2-run homeruns by Ryan Talbert and Garrett Scott powered the offense and Brady Harmon shut down the Wheeling rally with a game-ending strikeout as the tying run stood on second base.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 1, Wheeling 15
Team Records: West Liberty 10-37 (6-19 MEC), Wheeling 24-22 (12-13 MEC)
Attendance: 100
Pitching Decision: Win: Josh Wessler (1-0), Loss: Trevor Thomas (0-4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty struck first as James Salvatori tied the single-season homerun record with his 13^th long ball of the year clearing the left field fence to give the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
• Wheeling responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first as they took the lead for good, plating three runs on a bases clearing double to right field, and one run on a sacrifice fly out to Kobe Hill in center field to make it a 4-1 ball game.
• In the second and third innings the Hilltoppers had six consecutive batters go down on strikes, providing momentum as the Cardinals scored nine runs in the bottom of the third to break the game open. WU scored two runs on a homerun to left field, two runs on a homerun to left center, one run on a single to third base, two runs on a triple to center field, one run on a single to left field, and one run on double to left field to make it a 13-1 contest.
• The Black & Gold's final two hits of the game occurred in the top of the fourth inning as Ryan Talbert connected on a leadoff single to right field and then later Adam Och knocked a 2-out single to center field, however, they were left stranded as Kenny Jinks of Wheeling struck out his tenth batter of the game.
• West Liberty forced the Cardinals to strand a pair of base runners in the bottom of the fourth, however WU tacked on another pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth with a single to right field and an error which made it a 15-1 game.
• For the second consecutive inning the Hilltoppers went 3-up, 3-down in the top of the sixth before they recorded another pair of base runners in the seventh. Och and Hill each drew a full count walk to reach base, but Wheeling would close out the contest with a fly out to left field to earn the win in game one of the series. 

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
James Salvatori: 1-for-3, 1 homerun, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Adam Och: 1-for-2, 1 walk
Ryan Talbert: 1-for-3
Bryce Winter: 4.0 innings pitched, 4 strikeouts
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 7, Wheeling 6
Team Records: West Liberty 11-37 (7-19 MEC), Wheeling 24-23 (12-14 MEC)
Attendance: 100
Pitching Decision: Win: Jacob Watson (3-2), Loss: Wes Landis (2-5), Save: Brady Harmon (2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After West Liberty went 3-up, 3-down in the top of the first inning, Wheeling struck first with an RBI single to the shortstop to make it a 1-0 ball game.
• The Hilltoppers began to build momentum in the bottom of the second as Jacob Watson and the defense sent the Cardinals down in order, before Ryan Talbert knocked a 2-run homerun over the right field fence to give WLU a 2-1 advantage in the top of the third.
• Will Balgo and Michael Toepher were left stranded in the top of the fourth following a pair of walks, but the Black & Gold regrouped and added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth as Trevor Thomas doubled to left field to score Luke Marsh and Talbert to push the score to 4-1.
• The Cardinals evened the game at four apiece in the bottom of the fifth as one run scored on a single to the shortstop and two runs on a triple to left field.
• It wouldn't take long for West Liberty to respond as they regained the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning as Garrett Scott hit a 2-run homerun over the center field fence and later in the frame Talbert connected on a single to left center to score Marsh as WLU took a 7-4 lead.
• Drake Dobson took the mound in relief in the bottom of the seventh and held Wheeling without a hit and struck out two as momentum was on the side of the Hilltoppers.
• After WLU went 3-up, 3-down in the top of the seventh, Brady Harmon held off the WU rally as the Cardinals drew within one at 7-6. While Wheeling had the tying run standing on second base after a double to right center, Harmon sent the final batter down on strikes to record the save.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Ryan Talbert: 3-for-4, 1 double, 1 homerun, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored
Garrett Scott: 2-for-3, 1 homerun, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored
Jacob Watson: 5.0 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts
Drake Dobson: 1.0 innings pitched, 0 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 2 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will conclude the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Wheeling to the hilltop for senior day. The Hilltoppers and Cardinals are slated for 1 and 4 p.m. first pitch times at Kovalick field as the Black & Gold will recognize a trio of seniors in-between the pair of games.