Charleston, W. Va – Golden Eagle Baseball opened conference play with two wins against MEC North Division opponent Wheeling University. Charleston defeated the Cardinals, who were receiving votes in the Atlantic Region, and improved to 6^th in the latest Atlantic Region poll.
 
Game One
 
Wheeling struck first in game one scoring two run in the second inning off starting pitcher Ethan Soderna. Spencer Craig launched a ball over the center field wall for the first of four runs for the Cardinals.

Soderna had a short stint on the mound going 3.2, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out seven. He was replaced in the fourth by Cody Godbold, who picked up his first win as a Golden Eagle.
 
UC scored one on a passed ball in the fourth before exploding for four runs in the fifth. Trailing 2-1 in the inning, Kyle West worked a bases loaded walk to knot the score at two. With two outs and the bases still loaded Drew Klaserner popped up on what looked to be the third out of the inning. However, the outfield and shortstop for Wheeling couldn't come up with the mile high pop up and three runs score on the two out bloop from Klaserner.
 
Wheeling doubled home a pair in the top of the sixth but it wouldn't be enough as Cole Peschl slammed the door in the next two innings.
 
Peschl earned the save, his third of the season, tossing 1.2 scoreless with two strikeouts.
 
Klaserner was the only Charleston hitter with multiple hits in game one. He went 2-3 with a triple, a run scored, and three RBI.
 
Game Two
 
Game two was highlighted by stellar pitching out of the Charleston bullpen and two homers by the offense.
 
Peschl, fresh off earning the save in game one was run back onto the mound for game two as an opener. He went 2.0 innings, allowed three hits, one earned and struck out three.
 
He was relieved by the pitcher of record Dane Sykes. Sykes, who was originally scheduled for game two, pitched well in relief. He went 4.0 innings without allowing an run while collecting seven strikeouts.
 
For the first time in the series Charleston got on the board first. Tyler Dellerman hit a solo blast to left in the first to take the team lead in home runs with five.
 
Not three pitches later, West tattooed a 2-1 pitch over the right field wall. The 450' bomb tied Dellerman once again for the team lead in homers and Charleston took an early 2-0 lead.
 
Wheeling's Garth Charleton knocked in the only run for the Cardinals in game two in the top of the second inning. He singled home Anthony May, bringing the score to 2-1 after two.
 
UC's Griffin Adkins produced a big insurance run in the third almost by himself. He reached with a leadoff walk before advancing to second on a passed ball. Giano Zuccaro flew out to very short right field and Adkins made a heady play, tagging up to move to third with just one away. He came around to score on the next batter, coming home on a ball that didn't get more than 10 feet away from Wheeling's catcher.
 
With Charleston in the lead 3-1, Robby Shepherd pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn his second save of the year.
 
Kyle West was 2-3 with a double and a home run in the winning effort.
 
#WingsUp