Institute, W.Va. – Charleston swept West Virginia State on Friday afternoon to pick up their 25^th win in Mountain East Conference play. The Golden Eagles blasted four home runs on the afternoon including a grand slam in each game.   
 
GAME 1
 
The Basics:
Location: Cal Bailey Field
Score: UC 11, WVSU 8
Records: UC 37-7 (24-3 MEC), WV State 27-16 (19-8 MEC)
 
How it Happened:
West Virginia State got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning on two hits and a leadoff walk. With two outs and runners on first and second, a single to right field was good enough to plate the first run of the ballgame for West Virginia State.
 
In the top of the second, the Golden Eagles got to work, AJ Karosas started things off with a single up the middle. Hector Carreon-Herrera and Brayden McCallister then drew a pair of walks to load the bases for Evan Ulrich. With no outs and runners all around, Ulrich took and 0-1 pitch and blasted it over the left field wall, giving Charleston the 4-1 lead. The next batter, Damian Witty then reached on an error by the shortstop and Carter Rust followed with a bunt single. Drew Klaserner was then beamed by a 2-1 pitch to load the bases once again. Casey Finck grounded out to second on the play, all runners advancing and Charleston extending their lead to 5-1. With two outs and runners on second and third, AJ Karosas stepped back to the plate and for the second time in the inning sent a ball back up the middle, this time two runs scoring. Karosas was tagged out at second trying to advance on the play, but not before Charleston stretched their lead, 7-1 over the Yellow Jackets.
 
In the top of the third, the Golden Eagles tacked on another run, the eighth run coming courtesy of a Brayden McCallister double down the left field line to score Hector Carreon-Herrera who was hit in the previous at bat.
 
The Yellow Jackets struck back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits and two free pass walks. West Virginia State cut the deficit to 8-4 heading into the fifth inning.
 
Both teams were kept quiet on the bases until the bottom of the seventh when the Yellow Jackets were down to their final outs. The leadoff batter got things off to a hot start with a homerun to right field, State trailing 8-6 with three outs to play with. The next batter was walked before the second out of the inning was recorded on a fielder's choice. Now down to their final out, the next batter to the plate for State sent a game tying homerun over the left field fence to tie the game at 8-8. Charleston allowed another hit in the inning but proceeded to record the final out sending the game to extra innings.
 
In the top of the eighth, Brayden McCallister hit a one out single and pitches later stole second to give Charleston a runner in scoring position. The Yellow Jackets got the next batter to pop up but following the out McCallister stole third. With a runner just 90 feet away, Damian Witty singled through the right side to score McCallister and retake the lead. Carter Rust proceeded to step to the plate and set a deep ball to center that cleared the fence and put Charleston up 11-8.
 
Trey Ritchie came back out in the bottom of the eighth and retired the side striking out two to secure the game one victory for Charleston.
 
GAME 2
 
The Basics:
Location: Cal Bailey Field
Score: UC 7, WVSU 5
Records: UC 38-7 (25-3 MEC), WV State 27-17 (19-9 MEC)
 
How it Happened:
After a quiet first inning for both sides, Charleston got things started with an Eric Chartier grand slam to jump out ahead 4-0 in the top of the second. Owen MacNeil then sat the Yellow Jackets down in order in the bottom half of the inning, sending his squad back to the plate in the top of the third.
 
AJ Karosas started the inning off by drawing a full count walk and Carter Rust followed with a double to left center that bounced over the fence keeping Karosas at third base. Brayden McCallister then dropped down a bunt to sacrifice himself and plate a run. The Golden Eagles proceeded to load the bases, but the Yellow Jackets worked out of the jam and left the inning trailing 5-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, State broke the scoring with a two-run homer to center to cut the deficit to 5-2. Charleston responded in the top half if the fifth with a two-run homer of their own, the long ball coming off the bat of Carter Rust, his second of the afternoon.
 
The scoring then went silent for both squads until the bottom of the seventh when the Yellow Jackets had their final at bats. The leadoff hitter starting the inning with a solo shot to center, the score 7-3, Charleston still leading. Charleston then got the next two State batters to fly out, but a two out walk lead to trouble moments later. Down to their final out and a runner on first, State hit their third homerun of the contest, the Yellow Jackets trailing 7-5. Despite the scare, the Golden Eagles put the ball in Andrew Gormley's hand,  he then struck out his lone batter of the game to secure the save and complete the afternoon sweep for Charleston.
 
Up Next:
Charleston will host the Yellow Jackets for their final home games before the post season on Sunday, May 5^th. Senior Day festivities will begin around 1:00PM and first pitch of the doubleheader will follow.