CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The University of Charleston baseball has reached the halfway point in the regular season after a pair of wins over the Hilltoppers from West Liberty on Saturday. The Golden Eagles muscled for 21 hits on the afternoon, while stealing 15 bases (seven for Colby Johnson on the day). With the wins, Charleston is off to the best start in program history with a 17-3 record.

In game two win, Colby Johnson ties Anthony Brunetti (2016) and Frank Russo (1972) for the most stolen bases in a single game with five. In addition, Johnson has broken the all-time stolen bases record at Charleston, as the senior now has 80 stolen bases for his career, beating out Gianfranco Morello's former record of 73.
 

Game Information (Game One)
Charleston 9, West Liberty 0
Records: Charleston (16-3, 10-1 MEC), West Liberty (8-9, 6-5 MEC)
Location: Segra Field at the Welch Athletic Complex (Charleston, W. Va.)
W|L|S: Zane Lattig (2-1) | Ian Brady (3-2) | None

How it Happened

• The Golden Eagles got on the board in the 2^nd inning after Mitchell Vincent brought home Braxton Boddorf on an RBI groundout.
• In the 4^th, Colby Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded which forced in a run and put the Golden Eagles ahead 2-0.
• The scoring concluded in the 4^th when Tyler Dellerman singled home a pair of runs which put Charleston ahead 4-0 at the halfway mark in the game.
• After Charleston chased Hilltopper starting pitcher Ian Brady from the game, the Golden Eagles worked for three more runs in the 5^th to put the game out of reach.
• After working some runners on base, Hayden Cartt was able to bring home Pete Costigan on a sacrifice fly.
• Vincent came around to score on a passed ball followed up by an error and Bryce Toussaint doubled home Johnson. Headed to the 6^th, Charleston led 7-0.
• Charleston starting pitcher Zane Lattig earned his second win of the year on the mound as the freshman logged 5.0 innings, allowing no runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven.
• In relief, Robert Fultineer would work a perfect sixth inning which included a trio of strikeouts.
• In the bottom half of the 6^th, Charleston capped the scoring with a pair of runs, as both Boddorf and Costigan both recorded sacrifice flies.
• Caleb Rush slammed the door on the Hilltoppers in the 7^th inning, pitching around a walk to pitch a hitless seventh.
• Charleston stole six bases in game one, as five players stole a bag with Johnson stealing two.

 


Game Information (Game Two)
Charleston 10, West Liberty 1
Records: Charleston (17-3, 11-1 MEC), West Liberty (8-10, 6-6 MEC)
Location: Segra Field at the Welch Athletic Complex (Charleston, W. Va.)
W|L|S: Austin Henrich (2-0) | Logan Grimm (2-1) | None

How it Happened

• Much like game one, the Golden Eagles got the scoring started in the second inning after Boddorf brought home Andrew Berry on a sacrifice fly to put the Birds on top 1-0.
• Charleston starting pitcher Austin Henrich was tabbed for his first and only run of the ballgame in the top half of the third after Chad Matthus recorded an RBI groundout to tie the game at 1-1.
• In the third, Colby Johnson would score the game-winning run after scoring on a wild pitch from Hilltopper starter Logan Grimm to put Charleston back on top 2-1.
• Up by a run, the Golden Eagles put the game away after the power-hitting Hayden Cartt belted a three-run home run over the left field wall to give Charleston the wiggle room needed, leading 5-1.
• Drew Hefner joined the offensive output in the 4^th, as the senior catcher drove home Johnson after tripling to the right-center field wall.
• Leading 6-1, Austin Henrich's day concluded after logging 4.1 innings of work, allowing one run on two hits while walking a pair and striking out seven. Dane Sykes came on in relief of Henrich as the flame throwing Columbia, Tennessee native pitched a perfect 2.2 innings in relief which included three strikeouts.
• In the 6^th inning, Costigan doubled to left field which scored Boddorf and increased the Charleston lead to 7-1.
• In the 6^th, Dellerman would go on to plate a pair of runs on an RBI double before Boddorf would also double, scoring Dellerman to put Charleston on top 10-1, a lead that would hold for the remainder of the game after Sykes closed the door.   

 
UP NEXT:
Charleston will host the Bobcats from West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday and Sunday of next weekend when they will play four games over a two-day span. Both days are slated for a 1:00 PM first pitch.