Charleston, W. Va – Golden Eagle Baseball begins Mountain East Conference play against the Cardinals of Wheeling and the Hilltoppers of West Liberty as they host a four game series against the North Division opponents.
 
Game 1 vs Wheeling (7 innings)
Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023 | Time: 1:00 pm  | Video | Live Stats
Talent: PxP: Jack Withrow
Game 2 vs Wheeling (7 innings)
Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023 | Time: 3:30 pm  | Video | Live Stats
Talent: PxP: Jack Withrow
Game 3 vs West Liberty (7 innings)
Date: Sunday, March 19, 2023 | Time: 1:00 pm  | Video | Live Stats
 Talent: PxP: Jack Withrow
Game 4 vs West Liberty (7 innings)
Date: Sunday, March 19, 2023 | Time: 3:30 pm  | Video | Live Stats
Talent: PxP: Jack Withrow
Charleston Preview
 
The Golden Eagles are 12-1 at home this season, with their only loss coming at the hands of Ohio Dominican. They are undefeated in the month of March and have won their last eight games straight, dating back to February 25.
 
Mountain East Player of the Week Kyle West leads the offense. The sophomore is slashing .351/.472/.737 with a team leading 12 extra base hits including four home runs. His six doubles lead the MEC early in the season. West is second in home runs (4), hits (20) and he is third in slugging, runs scored (15), and walks (12).
 
Tyler Dellerman is tied with West for the team lead in long balls at four. He has a team best 16 RBI and is slashing .306/.384/.581. Dellerman has been clutch in big moments in the early season. He has had two walk off game winning RBI and had an 8^th inning grand slam that lifted Charleston over Cedarville in game two of their series.
 
Ethan Soderna leads starters with a 3.91 ERA and has held opponents to just a .209 batting average through five starts.
 
Charleston's bullpen has continued to dominate late in the game. As a team the bullpen has an ERA of 4.07.
 
Leading the way is senior Caleb Rush. The Fortville, IN native has thrown 7.0 innings without allowing an earned run and fanning nine.
 
Tad Dean and Zane Lattig both have thrown 4.0 innings only allowing one earned run each.
 
Austin Dzierwa has impressed in his senior campaign, throwing 6.2 innings allowing only two earned runs and collecting 12 strikeouts.
 
Cole Peschl leads the team in K's out of the bullpen with 13. He has tossed 12.2 innings to the tune of a 2.84 ERA with only three walks.
 
 
Wheeling Preview
 
Charleston has won the last six contests against the Cardinals dating back to 2019. Overall they are 13-8 in 21 games and have averaged 5.62 runs per game. Last year Charleston swept a double-header in Wheeling 9-6 and 13-3.
 
The Cardinal offense is led by Christian Boyles. The sophomore is hitting .355 with three doubles, a triple, and a home run.
 
Kobe Hill is leading the team working 10 walks and is tied with Boyles for the team lead in RBI at 11.
 
Kody McCarley is leading the pitchers with a 1.48 ERA and 35 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .193 off junior right hander.
 
West Liberty Preview
 
UC is 11-17 against the Hilltoppers all time. However, Charleston has won the last nine straight dating back to March, 2018. Last season Charleston took both games in the double-header at West Liberty, outscoring the Hilltoppers 37-8. UC has scored 10+ runs in their last four meetings dating back to 2021.
 
The Hilltoppers are led on offense by sophomore outfielder Jacob Sherman. He leads the team in batting average at .410 with six doubles and 10 walks.
 
As a team West Liberty is batting .270 which ranks 5^th in the MEC, just ahead of Charleston.
 
Hilltopper pitchers have struggled this season with both qualified starters having an ERA above 6.50. They have a team ERA of 7.60 which is 7^th best in the Mountain East. As a staff West Liberty is allowing an average of 6.77 runs per game, compared to Charleston's 5.13 runs/game.
 
#WingsUp