WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team earned a split against Glenville State on Saturday at Kovalick Field, taking game one 5-1 before falling 4-3 in game two.
Game 1: West Liberty 5, Glenville State 1
The Hilltoppers set the tone early and rode a strong outing from John Thompson to secure the opening game.
West Liberty capitalized on Glenville State miscues in the first inning, plating three unearned runs. Luke Foley drove in the first run after reaching on an error, while Aaron Flowers followed with a two-RBI play to give the Hilltoppers a 3-0 lead.
From there, Thompson (4-2) controlled the game on the mound, tossing a complete-game three-hitter — his fourth complete game of the season. He allowed just one run while striking out five and working around two walks.
The Hilltoppers added insurance in the fifth when Hunter White delivered an RBI single, and Brodee Latocha added another run in the sixth with an RBI base hit.
Giacomo Dolce led the offense with three hits, while White finished with two hits and an RBI as West Liberty totaled eight hits in the win.
Game 2: Glenville State 4, West Liberty 3
Glenville State responded in game two, using a three-run home run in the fifth inning to take control and hold off a late Hilltopper rally.
After trailing 1-0 early, West Liberty fell behind 4-0 following Ashton Crace's three-run homer in the fifth.
The Hilltoppers began to chip away in the sixth as Hunter White launched a solo home run to get West Liberty on the board.
In the seventh, West Liberty made things interesting. Giacomo Dolce lifted a sacrifice fly to score Austin Wittreich, and Luke Marsh followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one. However, the rally came up just short.
White again led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while Marsh added a hit and RBI in the late push.
Up Next
West Liberty moves to 7-12, 6-4 on the season and will continue its weekend homestand on Sunday against Concord at 1 and 4 p.m. at Kovalick Field.
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.
