Charleston, W. Va – For the fourth time in five years the Charleston Golden Eagles are the Mountain East Conference Tournament Champions. They defeated Frostburg 12-8 on Sunday evening to win back-to-back MEC Titles and secure the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament.
 
After defeating Concord by way of run-rule just 30 minutes prior, Charleston would have to battle the top seed in the MEC North Division Frostburg State for the conference title.
 
The Golden Eagles, playing as the away team, would bat first and capitalized on the momentum from the previous game. Andre Martinez knocked in a run with one out, Giano Zuccaro brought home another with a perfect bunt single down the third base line. Finally, Drew Beckner scored the third run of the inning with a sac fly to deep left-center field.
 
Owen MacNeil, who pitched the last inning of the semifinal game, got the nod on the bump for the championship game. His outing would be a short one, however. He worked just one inning before being relieved by Andrew Gormley in the second inning. In the first Frostburg scored one run on an infield single. Gormley came in with two of MacNeil's runners aboard in the second and allowed a two run shot, concluding the starter's line for the day.
 
UC scored their fourth run in the second inning on a sac fly from Martinez. However, Frostburg would go on to plate six runs in the bottom of the second inning and take a 7-4 lead. The Bobcats' Randy Steen and AJ Campbell both homered in the inning to swing the momentum in their favor.
 
As it had all tournament, the Charleston offense responded with a fury. UC scored four runs, all with two outs, in the top of the third inning to take a 8-7 lead. Three straight run scoring hits from Drew Klaserner, Kyle West, and tournament MVP Clay Hale shifted momentum back in favor of the Golden Eagles. Gormley would capitalize on the big swing as he needed just six pitches to retire three straight batters and held the lead in the third.
 
Gormley gave up a solo home run that tied the score at eight and then hit a batter and his relief appearance came to an end.
 
With such a prolific offensive showing by both side in the first few innings, the hits and runs were bound to slow at some point.
 
Austin Dzierwa had what could be considered the pitching performance of the tournament over the next 4.1 innings. The graduate right hander proceeded to dominate the Frostburg offense, collecting six strikeouts without allowing a hit or an earned run in his outing. Charleston would go on to take the lead in the seventh.
 
West gave Charleston that lead with his MEC leading 22^nd home run of the season. After being brushed back by a fastball on 2-0, words were exchanged between Frostburg pitcher Stretch and West. The MEC's best hitter proceeded hit a line drive missile over the left field wall to the delight of the Charleston faithful.


 
The next inning AJ Karosas hit a clutch two-out, two-run double to left center to stretch the lead to 11-8. In the ninth Zuccaro knocked home the final run on a safety squeeze bunt that scored Griffin Adkins from third.
 
Dwayne Sumler entered in the ninth and got Frostburg's Mikey Guy to groundout to second base to end the ball game.
 
The win marks the second time in school history that UC has won back-to-back MEC Tournament Championships and they remain the only school from the conference to ever win two consecutive MEC titles.
 
Charleston's offense was historically dominant this postseason, setting a plethora of new MEC records. In five games Charleston set new records for runs (74), doubles (25), and stolen bases (13). In total they had 75 hits including three triples and eight home runs.
 
The tournament MVP Clay Hale was a walking RBI machine. Over five games he hit .500 with nine runs, fourteen RBI, six doubles, six walks, and two home runs including a grand slam.
 
West, Martinez, and Klaserner were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Martinez hit .500 with ten runs, ten RBI, two doubles, a home run, four walks, and he was also hit by two pitches.
 
Klaserner hit .500 with 10 runs, seven RBI, three doubles, and a team high nine walks.
 
West who continues to increase his MEC home record lead with 22 hit .400 with thirteen runs, nine RBI, five doubles, three home runs, five walks, and three stolen bases during the tournament.
 
This season Charleston set new conference records for season wins (42), runs scored (500),  and RBI (472).