CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston Baseball team went 1-2 in a three-game series with The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Charleston fell 10-0 in game one, but came out swinging to a 7-5 victory in game two. Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, a late surge by the Mountain Cats forced a 4-2 loss in game three.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE 
Game 1: UPJ 10, Charleston 0
Game 2: Charleston 7, UPJ 5
Game 3: UPJ 4, Charleston 2
LOCATION – CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Appalachian Power Park
RECORDS – Charleston (4-4); UPJ (6-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE:
The Mountain Cats came out swinging in Game One on Friday night, plating four runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 10-0 victory.

Jack Shirk drove in the lone run of the second inning with a double to left field that would give Tyler Smith the go ahead.

Charleston would allow four more runs in the top of the fourth inning, ending with a single by Scott Thompson to the short stop, and would drive in the ninth run for UPJ.

The tenth and final run for the Mountain Cats came with a single to left field by Collin Pasone that would push Ben Foose to the plate.
 
The Golden Eagles were unable to get their offense rolling, going 2-for-20 from the box. Jeffery Wong took his first lost of the season, only facing six batters in the matchup.

GAME TWO:
The Mountain Cats would score two of their five runs in the top of the second with a two-run homer by the DH, Scott Thompson. The Golden Eagles answered in the bottom of the inning when an error by the third basemen allowed Jesse Elliot and Jack Brunetti to score. Hayden Cartt then reached home plate on a single by Braxton Boddorf..

Six of UC's starters recorded a hit in the win with Gianfranco Morello, Brunetti, and Cartt the way, finishing with two hits each.

James Shirk scored as Zach Zinn reached on an error by the UC shortstop in thetop of the third. Scott Thompson led the way with two RBIs in the homerun that put UPJ on the board first.

With the score tied 3-3 a SAC fly by Jesse Elliot would send Morello home to give UC the one-run advantage.  The Mountain Cats would tie the game up at 4-4 in the top of the fourth, and would take the 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth with a double by Ben Foose to center field pushing Lennox Pugh to score.

Charleston would answer back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the 7-5 victory.

Junior, Hunter Townsend would move to 1-1 on the season closing out the game in the final two innings.

GAME THREE:
After both teams went three innings without scoring, UPJ would strike first in the top of the fourth as Colin Pasone scored on Pugh's ground out. UC would turn the double play, but the Mountain Cats would earn their first run of the game.

With one runner on, Tyler Smith singled to shortstop allowing Asher Corl to score giving UPJ the 2-0 lead.


Austin Hathaway stole second in the bottom of the fifth, before Morello was walked, and with two runners on, Jack Brunetti hit a triple to left center tying the game up at 2-2 for the Golden Eagles.

UPJ stayed patient and with a single to left center by Smith, took the one-run lead as Corl crossed home plate. Boston Bradley hit a SAC fly to right field sending Kerstetter home for the 4-2 score.
 
Unable to plate any runs in the bottom of the seventh UC suffered their fourth loss of the season.

Brandon Harris recorded his first loss of the year, after seeing the final two runs score for UPJ.


UP NEXT
The Golden Eagles will travel to Wingate University on Friday March 8-10 for a three-game series. Game one is set for Friday March 8 at 6:00 p.m.