BECKLEY, W. Va. – The University of Charleston Baseball team picked up a win in the opening round of the MEC Tournament on Thursday evening, defeating the Hilltoppers from West Liberty 18-1 at Linda K. Epling Stadium. The Golden Eagles pounded out 18 hits on the night, while starting pitcher Logan Campbell did not allow a hit through 5.2 IP on their way to the win. Charleston has now defeated West Liberty in their last seven games, outscoring the opposition 73-11.
 
Game Information
Charleston 18, West Liberty 1
Records: Charleston (31-6, 24-4 MEC), West Liberty (20-19, 18-13 MEC)
Location: Linda K. Epling Stadium (Beckley, W. Va.)
W|L|S: Logan Campbell (9-0) | Ian Brady (6-4) | None

How it Happened

• After not playing in over two weeks, the Golden Eagles did not go silent on the offensive side, as Charleston plated five runs in the early going after sending ten batters to the plate in the opening frame.
• Bryce Toussaint began his MEC Tournament career with a single up the middle to open the inning before Drew Hefner and Tyler Dellerman walked to load the bases with no outs.
• JR Heavilin would plate the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly before the bases were loaded again with two away. In a big moment, Hayden Cartt would bring home what would go down as the game-winning run after doubling to left field which scored Hefner and Dellerman.
• Pete Costigan, who would finish the night 4-for-4, brought home a pair on an RBI-single which increased the Golden Eagle lead to 5-0.
• Campbell would go on to strike out four over the next three innings of work to increase his total to seven for the game going into the bottom of the 4^th.
• In the bottom half of the inning, the Golden Eagles struck again, this time plating two runs after Bryce Toussaint continued his MEC Tournament debut in style, launching a two-run home run over the left-centerfield wall to increase the Charleston lead to 7-0. Heavilin would later go on to bring home Dellerman on an RBI-double to left field.
• After Campbell retired the side in order in the 5^th, Charleston plated another to take a 9-0 lead after Cartt scored on a wild pitch.
• In the sixth, the Hilltoppers would record their first hit of the night with two outs, but Campbell would work out of trouble to finish his night. The Senior from Sparta, Michigan went on to log 6.0 IP, allowing just two hits while walking four and striking out ten.
• In the bottom of the sixth, Charleston scored five runs on five hits to increase their lead to 14-0.
• Owen MacNeil would come on in relief of Campbell, logging 2.0 IP, allowing a run on three hits while walking one and striking out one.
• In the bottom of the 8^th, Charleston would cap the scoring with four runs on three hits, including a big-fly from Cartt which brought home a pair to increase the lead to 18-1.
• Caleb Rush would come on to pitch the 9^th for the Golden Eagles, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out a batter. The game ended on a double play.

UP NEXT:
Charleston will take on the Mountain Lions from Concord on day two of the MEC Tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Friday evening.