Charleston, W.Va. – Charleston defeated Fairmont State to advance to Championship Sunday. The Golden Eagles blasted four homeruns in the contest including two from Eric Chartier.
The Basics:
Location: GoMart Ballpark
Score: UC 12, FSU 2
Records: UC 42-8, Fairmont State 20-28
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles were deemed the away team of the semifinal matchup, and they took full advantage of getting on the board first. The game got started with a Drew Klaserner walk and then advanced on a pass ball before getting moved over to third by a JD Armstrong sacrifice bunt. The Falcons picked up a big out by getting Casey Finck to ground out and keep Klaserner on third, but Carter Rust disturbed the defense when he drove a ball off the left field wall and legged out a triple, scoring Klaserner for the first run of the ball game.
Starting pitcher Austin Dzierwa took care of business in the bottom half of the inning, sitting the Falcons down in order to send Charleston back to the plate.
Brayden McCallister led the inning off with a full count walk and then Evan Ulrich packed a punch with a two-run shot to left field to give the Golden Eagles an early 3-0 advantage. The Falcons got the next out, but nine-hole hitter Eric Chartier kept the momentum on Charleston's side as he blasted a solo shot to left field. The Falcons walked Armstrong later in the inning but were able to sit down the top of the order and escape any further damage, Charleston leading 4-0 heading into the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the second the Falcons worked a hit and a walk but could not get a runner past second base, the Golden Eagles getting out of the inning unscathed.
In the top of the third inning Carter Rust drew a four pitch walk and Hector Carreon-Herrera followed with a single to right field. The two runners aboard forced Fairmont States starting pitching to exit and head to the bullpen early in the game. Brayden McCallister was then walked loading the bases with no outs for the Golden Eagles. The Falcons got the next hitter to pop up but hit Damian Witty and walked Eric Chartier to give up two runs in the inning, Charleston ahead 6-0.
The scoring settled for the next few innings until the bottom of the sixth when Fairmont State plated two runs. As the rain continued to fall over GoMart Ballpark, Dzierwa struggled with his control, walking two batters, and throwing a couple of wild pitches before giving up a double that scored two runs for the Falcons, Fairmont State now trailing 6-2.
In the top of the seventh Eric Chartier tacked on another Golden Eagles run with his second solo homerun of the afternoon.
In the top of the ninth, there was a weather delay that lasted over an hour, Charleston taking full advantage of the delay when play resumed, plating five runs in the top of the ninth to go ahead 12-2. The big blow of the inning coming from a three-run Drew Klaserner bomb to right field. Damian Witty and Eric Chartier also collected RBI's in the inning.
Eugene Gay entered in the bottom of the ninth for Charleston and after giving up a leadoff hit, Gay sat down the next three Falcons, securing the victory for Charleston and sending the team into Championship Sunday.
Up Next:
Charleston will play West Virginia State in the Championship game today set for a 1:00PM first pitch.
