Charleston, W. Va – For the first time since 2017, the Charleston Baseball fell in their opening game of the Mountain East Conference tournament. After leading West Liberty 7-0 after the first three inning Charleston scored just one run over the next six, and were defeated 11-8.
 
Kyle West opened what looked to be a typical showing for the Golden Eagles in the MEC tournament. He blasted his MEC leading 20^th homer of the season to left in the first, and broke the conference record for single season home runs.
 
The next inning Charleston plated five runs. After the first two runners reached in the inning, Drew Klaserner doubled them home to make it 3-0. A two-out rally ensued where the Golden Eagles brought home three more in the inning. Andre Martinez knocked in a couple of runs with a single to right, and it seemed as if the Golden Eagles were rolling up 6-0 after the second inning.
 
However, the next inning would mark the start of a recurring story for the Charleston offense throughout the contest, leaving runners stranded. With nobody out and the bases loaded in the third both Tyler Dellerman and West, Charleston's two best hitters, struck out. Martinez was walked the next at bat to make it 7-0 but that would be the only damage done in the inning.
 
Again in the fifth, the Golden Eagles found themselves with bases loaded and no outs, but the next three batters went down in order and no damage was done.
 
West Liberty struck in the fifth, bringing home four runs against starting pitcher Drew Beckner. The sophomore left hander had been dominating in the first four innings, recording eight strikeouts without allowing a run. But, after surrendering back-to-back hits and then hitting the next two batters in the fifth, he was pulled and replaced by Robby Shepherd.
 
Shepherd struck out the first Hilltopper he saw, but threw a wild pitch followed by a two-RBI single that allowed all four of Beckner's runs to cross the plate. Beckner finished with a final line of 4.1 innings pitched, with four hits, four earned runs, two walks, and nine strikeouts.
 
Shepherd gave up a two run homer the next inning as West Liberty cut into the lead once again and trailed just 7-6 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Hector Carreon-Herrara reached on a single in the bottom of the frame, and a Hilltopper throwing error allowed one more one to score, but it would be the last of the ballgame for UC. Again, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases in the frame, but a Kyle Westfly out with stranded the would be insurance runs.
 
Tad Dean, who entered in relief of Shepherd in the sixth, worked a clean top of the seventh but was tagged for a two-run home run in the eighth inning that knotted the score at eight apiece.
 
In the ninth, Dean allowed back to back hits to lead off the inning and was replaced after surrendering a double that gave West Liberty a 9-8 lead late in the contest.
 
Andrew Gormley entered in relief and struck out the first batter he faced. However, a Z. Hawkins bloop single with two outs gave West Liberty a three run cushion and sealed Charleston's fate in the game.
 
Carreon-Herrara led the way on offense with three hits and a run scored including a double. Martinez finished the game 2 for 5 with three RBI and a walk. Clay Hale was 2 for 4 with a couple of runs scored and two doubles.
 
Dellerman was hitless, but walked three times and Klaserner tallied a hit in three at bats with two RBI and three walks.
 
The Golden Eagles will look to stave off elimination on Thursday morning as they take on cross-town rival West Virginia State University in the late game at 2 p.m.