Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A breakout seven-run sixth inning helped the University of Charleston baseball team to seal a come-from-behind 11-5 victory in the first of a two game series against Davis & Elkins, Wednesday afternoon at Triana Field. The Senators rebounded to take the second contest 19-2.
In the first game, Charleston (5-9) struck first in the second inning as Conner Shehan (Castle Rock, CO/Highlands Ranch) delivered a two-out RBI single for the quick 1-0 advantage. The lead would not be safe long as D&E grabbed two runs in the top of third before UC recaptured a 3-2 lead with two-runs of its own in the closing half of the inning.
The Senators took advantage as Golden Eagle starter Wes Sherrill (Charlottesville, VA/Fork Union) began to fatigue as they used back-to-back doubles to plate three runs in the fourth inning to make the score 6-3. UC clawed in a run in the fifth inning with three singles in the inning capped with an RBI credited to Mike Dahl (Shakopee, MN/Shakopee Senior).
The Golden Eagles brought on Travis Zimmerman (Chesapeake, OH/Chesapeake) to cool the Davis & Elkins bats, which he did successfully to set up the comeback for UC. John Shraer (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) started the big inning off by being hit in the head with a hard fastball, which ultimately was the ignition switch for the UC offense.
Ross Easterling (Logan, WV/Logan) followed Shraer with a single thru the left side before the wheels fell off for the Senators who walked the next four batters to set up the decisive blast for the Golden Eagles. The final straw was broken when Shehan followed a Dahl RBI with a three-run blast deep to right field to set the score at 11-5.
Shehan led all UC batters in the first contest with a 3-for-4 performance, while adding four RBIs and a run scored. Zimmerman picked up his first win of the season as he allowed just three hits in 3.1 innings of work.
The Senators used the second contest for revenge as they pounded out 15 hits and capitalized on four UC errors to fly past the home team 19-2. Easterling was the lone highlight for the Golden Eagles in the contest as he went 3-of-4 at the plate.
The University of Charleston returns to action on Saturday, March 27 at 1:00 pm for a divisional doubleheader against Kanawha Valley rival West Virginia State.
