Charleston, W.Va. – The Golden Eagles faced the Mountain Cats of University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in a three-game series this past weekend.
 
GAME 1
 
The Basics:
Location: Welch Athletic Complex
Score: UC 4, UPJ 5
Records: Charleston 4-10, Pitt-Johnstown 3-7
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles found themselves trailing in game one after the Mountain Cats plated a run in the top of the second, but Charleston responded with a run with a Tyler Parks single to left field to knot the score at 1-1 in the second inning. UPJ then plated three runs on three hits and a UC error in the top of the third to regain the lead. Charleston plated a single run in the bottom half of the inning off three hits, but the Golden Eagles stranded two runners and trailed 4-2 as the teams headed to the fourth inning.
 
The fourth inning was scoreless, but in the top of the fifth, the Mountain Cats plated their fifth run of the ballgame. Charleston answered with their third run of the game, the run coming from two hits and a Johnstown error. The sixth inning was quiet, and Charleston kept the Mountain Cats off the board in the top of the seventh, needing two runs to tie it.
 
Charleston got off to a great start in the bottom of the seventh, Moose Lemond leading the inning off with a double to center field. Next batter to the plate Wilfredo Mendez hit a deep fly ball to center, allowing Lemond to tag and score all the way from second base, the score 5-4 Charleston still trailing. With one out, Collin Kemp walked to give Charleston a base runner. Evan Ulrich was then hit by a pitch, runners on first and second. Dakota Miller then singled to right field bases loaded for the Golden Eagles. Damian Witty then hit a fly ball to left field, the runner on third looking like they would be able to tag and score and tie the ball game, but the Mountain Cats suspected the runner left early, threw to the bag, and the umpire called the runner out, ending the game in favor of UPJ 5-4.
 
GAME 2
 
The Basics:
Location: Welch Athletic Complex
Score: UC 5, UPJ 1
Records: Charleston 5-10, Pitt-Johnstown 3-8
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles bounced back in game two of the afternoon, taking the victory over the Mountain Cats 5-1 in a nine-inning contest. Charleston's first and second run of the game came in the first inning when Evan Ulrich blasted a two-run shot to left field scoring Damian Witty who initially reached on an error.
 
The Mountain Cats plated a run of their own in the top of the second, but the run would be the only one the Golden Eagle defense would allow in the game. Charleston went on to plate their third and fourth run in the bottom of the third, Wilfredo Mendez and Carter Rust both picked up RBI's in the inning. Charleston scored their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Dakota Miller led the inning off with a triple to center field, and then came around to score on a wild pitch.
 
The rest of the game was scoreless, Charleston eventually taking the victory 5-1 over the Mountain Cats.
 
GAME 3
 
The Basics:
Location: Welch Athletic Complex
Score: UC 3, UPJ 8
Records: Charleston 5-11, Pitt-Johnstown 4-8
 
How it Happened:
Charleston led things off on Sunday with the first run of the ball game on a Dakota Miller sacrifice fly to score Damian Witty and give the Golden Eagles the 1-0 lead. Charleston would hold that lead until the fourth inning when UPJ plated four runs on four hits.
 
The Mountain Cats then extended their lead, 6-1 in the top of the sixth on one error, one walk, and two sacrifice fly outs. Charleston plated a single run in bottom of the seventh, Ryan Comella picking up the hit to left field with an RBI scoring Carter Rust.
 
Johnstown added on two more runs in the top of the eighth on just one hit, paired with two walks and two hit by pitch batters. Dakota Miller picked up his second RBI of the game in the bottom half of the inning, one again hitting a sacrifice fly to score the runner from third.
 
The Mountain Cats kept Charleston scoreless for the remainder of the game, going on to take the victory 8-3 over Charleston.
 
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will begin conference play this weekend as they are set to host Wheeling University on March 14^th and West Liberty University on march 15^th. The games were originally scheduled for Saturday/Sunday, but the schedule has changed to avoid the weather.