Charleston, W.Va. – Charleston picks up their first home victory of the 2024 season with win over Tiffin. The Golden Eagles defeated the Dragons 7-3 in game one of the three game series.
 
The Basics:
Location: Welch Athletic Complex
Score: UC 7, TU 3
Records: UC 3-1 (0-0 MEC), Tiffin 0-1
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles opened up their first home game of the 2024 campaign on a chilly Friday afternoon in the capital city and it was right-handed pitcher Austin Dzierwa who got the start for Charleston in game one of the three game series against the Tiffin Dragons.
 
The matchup was the Dragons first game of the season, but that did not shy them away from being aggressive in the batter's box. The scoring broke open early as Tiffin's Ty Hatfield sent a ball out of the park on just the third pitch of the game to give the Dragons an early 1-0 lead. Following the deep ball, Dzierwa gave up a single as a hit by pitch before getting out of a jam and sending his team to the plate.
 
The Golden Eagles quickly went down in order, sending Austin Dzierwa back to the bump to start inning two.
 
The Dragons worked two three hits in the inning to load the bases with one out, but Dzierwa worked his way out of the inning by inducing a pop up and a ground out to second base to keep the damage at 1-0 Tiffin. Two Golden Eagles found their way aboard in the bottom half of the inning by way hit by pitch, but Tiffin exited the inning unscathed and headed back to bat.
 
In the top of the third, Dzierwa faced four batters, giving up one hit before sending his team back to the dugout, 9,1,2 due up to the plate.
 
After a quick two outs to start the bottom of the third, Eric Chartier worked a walk. To follow, three-hole hitter Casey Finck got the bats going with a double to left center, scoring Chartier from first and tying the game at 1-1. Clean-up hitter JD Armstrong then worked a walk to give left-handed hitter Hector Carreon-Herrera a chance at the plate. Several pitches alter, both runners advanced due to a wild pitch, giving Carreon Herrera two runners in scoring position. The lefty found a pitch he liked and laced a ball into right field, scoring both runners and advancing to second on the throw home. Carreon-Herrera proceeded to advance to third on the next ball with a wild pitch, and moments later score after a passed ball tipped off the catcher's glove. After two pitches failed to find the strike zone, Carter Rust was hit with the next, being awarded first base. AJ Karosas followed that up with a single to right field before the inning came to a close. With four runs in the inning, Charleston was leading 4-1 heading into the top of the fourth.
 
The Dragons came out in the fourth ready to respond, the first batter up singling to center field, and the next drawing a walk. After allowing runners to reach first and second, Austin Dzierwa's day came to a close and Jimmy Breen took over on the bump for the Golden Eagles. Lead off batter for Tiffin laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, second and third with one out for the Dragons. Breen bounced the next pitch off the plate, allowing Tiffin to score one and advance the next runner to third. Ty Hatfield proceeded to ground out to second base and collecting his second RBI of the afternoon as the runner scored on the play. Breen got the next batter to fly out to center, sending his team back to the dugout up 4-3.
 
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, the top of the order got things started for Charleston, Drew Klaserner singling to left field. Next batter up Eric Chartier roped a double to right center, scoring Klaserner from first. JD Armstrong worked his third walk of the afternoon with two outs, giving the bat to the hot hitter, Hector Carreon-Herrera. Carreon-Herrera did not disappoint, bouncing a ball off the top of the right field wall and legging it out to third for a triple and two more RBI's on the afternoon.  The Golden Eagles ended the fourth with three runs on three hits, leading 7-3.
 
The remainder of the game was scoreless, both teams working runners on and utilizing arms from their bullpens. Tiffin left three runners on for the remainder of the contest, while Charleston left seven. The Dragons using three arms in the game with the Golden Eagles sending four to the mound.
 
Hector Carreon-Herrera was an offensive spark for Charleston, going 3-5 with a triple, stolen base, and four RBI.
 
Up Next:
Charleston and Tiffin will face off in game two of the series tomorrow afternoon. The game is set for a 1:30 PM first pitch at the Welch Athletic Complex.