Wheeling, W.Va - Charleston took two from Wheeling University in Saturday's doubleheader.
Game 1
Game 1 of the MEC conference doubleheader against Wheeling University included nine runs, nine hits, and one error for the UC Golden Eagles.
After a walk from Jordan Bailey, a single from Tyler Dellerman, and another walk by Kyle West, Braxton Boddorf roped a three run double to left field. A sacrifice fly by Giano Zuccaro brought Boddorf home, making the score 4-0 after the top of the first inning.
Wheeling answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. A sacrifice fly by Heavilin to score Skantze kicked off the scoring for Wheeling. Iazzetta poked a two run single to right field and the Cardinals trailed by just one at 4-3 after the first inning. Starting pitcher Ethan Soderna settled in after a rough first inning, striking out three Cardinals hitters in the 2nd, and having a three-up three-down third.
Dellerman then cracked his 5th home run of the season in the third inning and the score was 5-3, still in favor of Charleston. That would be the only run of the third inning. The Golden Eagles then broke it open in the top of the 4th, adding three more runs to make it a 9-3 ballgame. After back-to-back singles by Drew Klaserner and Pete Costigan, Jack Reisenweber was able to reach on an error scoring Klaserner. Dellerman hit a sacrifice fly after Bailey had a bunt single to load the bases. Boddorf then nailed a 2 out 2 RBI single to make the game 9-3 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Cardinals led off with a home run and a single. An error on the play allowed Iazzetta to reach second base. After a sacrifice bunt and groundout to second, the Cardinals forced their way back into the game leaving it at 9-5 going into the final three frames.
Cole Peschl would take over for Soderna in the 5th, going the rest of the game and shutting the door on the Cardinals comeback attempt. The only mark against Peschl was a 2 out home run in the bottom half of the seventh. Two batters later, Peschl fanned the last hitter of the game to secure the win.
Game 2
The nightcap of the MEC conference doubleheader against Wheeling University included thirteen runs and fifteen hits for the UC Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles started off hot and never looked back in game 2. UC struck for 10 runs in the top half of the frame. Charleston would bat a whopping fourteen batters to the plate in the frame, with production coming up and down the Golden Eagle lineup. Bailey ended the first inning with a hit and a walk, scoring two runs. Eric Chartier had a 3 RBI double to make the game 4-0. In West's second at-bat of the inning, he laced a 2 RBI single, where he would start the game 2 for 2. After a pithing change for the Cardinals, and a 2 RBI single for Boddorf, the Eagles would seemingly put the game away after just the top half of the first inning.
The Golden Eagles would strike for another run in the second, courtesy of an RBI walk from Dellerman. They would score two more in the 6th with an RBI single from West, and Dellerman scoring on a passed ball. The Cardinals retaliated in the bottom of the first for a run with a sacrifice fly, and 2 more in the 4th with a home run by Charlton.
Starting pitcher Drew Beckner was sharp in his 5th start of the season. He totaled 5.0 innings pitched, only allowing three earned runs and striking out four in a winning effort. Zane Lattig would pitch the remainder of the game, allowing one hit in two innings of work, picking up two strikeouts along the way.
Charleston improved to 17-8 on the year, and a scorching 9-1 in conference play.
Up Next: UC travels for another MEC conference doubleheader at West Liberty tomorrow, beginning at 1:00pm.
