CHARLESTON, W.Va. – University of Charleston Baseball got a strong performance from Adam Jafine and Colby Johnson on Saturday afternoon to earn a doubleheader split with West Liberty at Triana Field.
 
THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE        West Liberty University 11, University of Charleston 4
                                    University of Charleston 11, West Liberty University 1
 
LOCATION              Charleston, W.Va. (Triana Field)
RECORDS                Charleston (13-11, 7-3); West Liberty (9-10, 7-5)
THE GAMES
 
GAME 1
The Hilltoppers got to Charleston starter Austin Henrich early in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after two innings.  Most of the damage coming in the Topper second behind back-to-back HR's from Vincent Haddox and Ethan Estes.  Charleston cut the lead in half in the third after a Gianfranco Morello two RBI double to deep center, making it 4-2 after three innings.  The Golden Eagles trimmed it to 4-3 in the fourth following a Jack Brunetti RBI single to center and looked to have momentum going into the late innings.
 
That would be as close as Charleston would get in game one as West Liberty reeled off seven unanswered runs to cruise to an 11-4 win in the opening game of Saturday's MEC doubleheader.  Morello finished the game going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI's for the Golden Eagles.
 
GAME 2
UC took command of game two of Saturday's twin bill with WLU in the second inning, plating five runs fueled by a Colby Johnson three-run bomb to center that gave the Golden Eagles a 5-0 lead after two.  That was all the run support Charleston starter Adam Jafine would need, as the senior right hander went six innings allowing just one run and striking out nine Toppers. 
 
Leading 5-1 in the third, the Golden Eagles extended the advantage to 8-1 with a three-run third inning by taking advantage Topper pitchers unable to find the plate, throwing a pair of wild pitches that allowed UC to score two runs.  Holding a 9-1 lead in the fifth, Johnson stepped to the plate again with bad intentions and made the most of his appearance, smashing his second homerun of the game to center field to make it an 11-1 game.
 
Johnson finished the game going 3-for-4 with five RBI's and two HR's for the Golden Eagles.  Jack Brunetti and Brice Arrington each had multi-hit games and scored two runs apiece.
 
NEXT UP
 
UC returns to Triana Field on Monday evening for a doubleheader with Wheeling Jesuit University.  First pitch with the Cardinals is set for 4:00 p.m.