NUTTER FORT, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team was on the wrong side of a pair of high-scoring contests Saturday, falling to Salem in a non-conference doubleheader, 14-9 and 7-5.
Game 1: Salem 14, West Liberty 9
The opener turned into an offensive shootout, highlighted by a big third inning from the Hilltoppers.
After Austin Wittreich put West Liberty on the board with a solo home run in the second, Salem answered with a seven-run bottom of the inning to seize control. The Hilltoppers responded in a big way in the third, plating six runs to tie the game at 7-7. Lucas Marsh sparked the rally with an RBI triple, while Hunter White and Luke Marsh each delivered run-scoring hits. Garrett Comer capped the inning with a two-RBI single.
Salem quickly regained momentum with a three-run third and continued to add on, taking advantage of miscues to extend the lead. The Tigers finished with 14 runs on 14 hits.
White led West Liberty at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Luke Marsh added two hits and two RBIs. Wittreich also homered and scored twice as part of a 13-hit effort for the Hilltoppers.
Game 2: Salem 7, West Liberty 5
West Liberty again jumped out to an early lead in game two, scoring twice in the second and adding single runs in the third and fourth to build a 5-2 advantage.
Cooper Basciano and Lucas Marsh each drove in runs in the second, while Wyatt McClintock and Wittreich contributed RBI hits to extend the lead.
Salem chipped away with a run in the third before taking control in the fifth with a three-run inning to tie the game. Reese Rinna proved to be the difference for the Tigers, blasting three home runs on the day, including a two-run shot in the eighth that broke a 5-5 tie and sealed the sweep.
Lucas Marsh paced the Hilltoppers offensively in the nightcap, going 3-for-5 with a double and RBI, while White added two hits. West Liberty finished with 11 hits but stranded 11 runners in the loss.
West Liberty will look to bounce back as the two teams conclude the weekend series with another doubleheader Sunday, beginning at 1 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.
