Charleston, W.Va. – Charleston defeats the Wheeling Cardinals in a shortened game due to the run rule in the first round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament. The Golden Eagles plated ten runs in seven innings to take the first game victory and advance to Friday.
GAME 1
The Basics:
Location: GoMart Ballpark
Score: UC 10, WU 0
Records: UC 40-8 (26-4 MEC), Wheeling 25-25 (13-15 MEC)
How it Happened:
As the home team, the Golden Eagles took the field in the top of the first inning and Dwayne Sumler got the call for Charleston on the bump. After retiring the first two batters, Sumler gave up a hit that would stand as the Cardinals only hit of the afternoon. After getting the next batter to ground into a fielder's choice, the Golden Eagles headed to the plate.
Charleston was kept quiet in the bottom of the first, JD Armstrong grabbing Charleston's first hit of the afternoon, but the Cardinals kept the Golden Eagles off the board and retired three of four batters faced.
The bottom of the second rolled around and Wheeling picked up two quick outs, but the Golden Eagles had some two out magic that got started with a Hector Carreon-Herrera single to center field. Damian Witty then was hit by a pitch and Eric Chartier followed with a walk to load the bases for lead-off hitter Drew Klaserner. After fouling a pitch off down the right field line that just went foul of a home run, Klaserner drove the very next backside over the wall for a grand slam and a four-run Charleston lead.
In the bottom of the third the Golden Eagles tacked on two more runs on two hits and a walk. Armstrong led the inning off with a single to left field. Carter Rust grounded into a fielder's choice but then stole second to advance and put a runner in scoring position. Evan Ulrich proceeded to fly out to center field, allowing the speedy Rust to advance to third. Brayden McCallister then walked and later stole second, giving Carreon-Herrera two runners on scoring position. Carreon-Herrera took advantage and drilled a ball into center field, collecting two RBI and giving Charleston a 6-0 lead over the Cardinals.
Charleston once again plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The first run was scored on a Carreon-Herrera/Witty first and third delay steal to second to allow the runner to advance home, the runner heading to second was also safe on the play. The next run came off a Drew Klaserner RBI single to center field, Klaserner picking up his fifth RBI of the afternoon.
A pitching change for Charleston in the top of the seventh gave the Cardinals some hope as they had two runners on by way of walk, but Andrew Gormley found his footing and closed out the inning not allowing a hit. Charleston then headed to the plate where lead off hitter JD Armstrong was struck by a pitch to give the Golden Eagles their first base runner of the inning. Following a fly out, Evan Ulrich drew a one out walk to put runners on first and second. After a double steal, Brayden McCallister worked a 3-1 walk and the bases were loaded for Charleston. The Cardinals were forced to make a pitching change, and the relief pitcher got Hector Carreon-Herrera to line out to right field, but the Golden Eagles were able to tag on the play and plate their ninth run of the game. Damian Witty was then hit by a pitch for the second time, loading the bases for Eric Chartier. Chartier then singled to left field to pick up an RBI and walk off the game for Charleston in run rule fashion.
Up Next:
Charleston has a bye after winning the first game of the tournament and will face the loser of Glenville State and Fairmont. This game will take place back at GoMart on Friday at noon.
