Game 1:
CANTON, Ohio – West Liberty's offense erupted in game one of Friday's doubleheader, rolling to a commanding 20-4 victory over Malone behind a 17-hit performance.
After trading runs in the second inning, the Hilltoppers took control in the third with a four-run outburst. Will Balgo's RBI triple plated Ryan Talbert to break the tie, followed by Connor Huzicka's RBI double and an Adam Och run-scoring double. Luke Marsh capped the inning with an RBI single, giving West Liberty a 5-1 advantage.
Malone responded with a three-run fourth inning, cutting the deficit to 6-4, but West Liberty put the game out of reach in the fifth. Jacob Sherman's two-run single and Talbert's two-run triple led the charge as the Hilltoppers plated five runs to stretch the lead to 11-4.
The offense kept rolling in the sixth, exploding for nine runs. Huzicka delivered a three-run double, while Och added another RBI double. Marsh's reaching on an error allowed two more runs to score, sealing West Liberty's dominant performance.
Huzicka led the way with a 3-for-5 day, driving in four runs and scoring three times. Talbert also had three RBIs, including a triple, while Sherman chipped in three RBIs of his own. Eight different Hilltoppers recorded at least one hit.
Ethan Conley (1-0) earned the win, working five innings while allowing four runs on 10 hits. John Thompson came in for two scoreless innings of relief to close the game.
Game 2:
West Liberty dropped the second game of their doubleheader against Malone, 6-2, despite an early lead.
The Hilltoppers (2-5) struck first in the third inning when Jacob Sherman scored on a sacrifice fly by William Glick, giving West Liberty a 1-0 advantage. However, Malone (3-3) responded in the fourth with a grand slam from A. Bartiromo, clearing the bases and shifting momentum in favor of the home team.
Malone extended its lead in the sixth inning, adding two more runs. A bases-loaded walk to R. Tyna pushed across another run, followed by a sacrifice fly from A. Diaz to make it 6-1.
West Liberty attempted a late rally in the seventh when Sherman scored on a throwing error, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.
The Hilltoppers recorded six hits in the game, with Will Balgo leading the offense with a pair of singles. Sherman contributed with a double and two runs scored, while Kameron Jackson added a triple.
On the mound, Kristopher Skeen pitched a complete game for West Liberty, allowing five hits and six earned runs while striking out eight over six innings.
The Hilltoppers will face UPJ Saturday in a doubleheader once again at Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton.
