BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team split a road doubleheader Sunday afternoon at West Virginia Wesleyan, using a big offensive outburst to take game one before falling in a tightly contested nightcap.
Game 1: West Liberty 11, West Virginia Wesleyan 3
West Liberty's offense erupted for 11 runs as the Hilltoppers rolled to a convincing 11-3 victory in the opener.
The Hilltoppers wasted no time, plating three runs in the first inning on RBI hits from Evan Tice and Luke Foley. After Wesleyan cut the lead to 3-2 in the second, West Liberty broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning.
Tice delivered the biggest swing of the game with a grand slam, finishing with five RBIs on the day. Luke Marsh added a strong performance at the plate, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Foley contributed two hits and two RBIs.
Austin Wittreich added an RBI double in the fourth, and Marsh capped the scoring with a two-run single in the seventh.
On the mound, Seth Cover earned the win, allowing two runs over four innings, while Garrett Comer closed out the final three innings in relief.
Game 2: West Virginia Wesleyan 4, West Liberty 3
Game two was a much tighter battle, with West Virginia Wesleyan rallying for a 4-3 victory.
West Liberty struck first in the second inning as Giacomo Dolce delivered an RBI single to give the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead.
Wesleyan responded with a three-run fourth inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to take a 3-1 advantage, then added another run in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-1.
The Hilltoppers mounted a late push in the seventh, as Hunter White singled home two runs to cut the deficit to one. However, West Liberty was unable to complete the comeback.
White led the offense in game two, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Dolce also recorded two hits.
Mason Bille took the loss on the mound, allowing four runs (two earned) over five innings.
West Liberty returns to the field Wednesday when they host Ohio Dominican at 3 p.m.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
