Salem, W.Va.– Golden Eagles drop two games at Salem on Sunday.
Game 1
The Basics
Location: Frank Loria Stadium
Score: UC 6, SU 17
Records: UC 8-20(5-5 MEC), Salem 19-9
How it Happened
Charleston struck first, as Ryan Comella grounded out to bring home the opening run. Moments later, Landon Nida delivered a two-RBI single to give UC an early 3-0 lead. Devin Walsh took the mound for the Golden Eagles early, but Salem answered immediately. After an RBI single from Aaron Forbes, Cody Thomas launched a three-run homer to flip the game on its head, giving the Tigers a 4-3 advantage by the end of the first.
Charleston tied it up things up in the second inning when Garrett Broadwater drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, making it 4-4. However, SU responded again, reclaiming the lead on another big hit from Forbes, who added two more RBIs to make it 6-4. The game broke open in the third inning, as the Tigers for nine runs. Key hits included a twoRBI double from Brandon Hoftijzer, multiple RBI singles from Forbes and Reese Rinna, and another RBI extra-base hit from Thomas. Defensive miscues by Charleston also contributed to the rally, as SU extended its lead to 15-4.
Salem continued to pile on in the fourth, adding two more runs on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a sacrifice fly from Thomas, pushing the score to 17-4.Charleston tried fighting late in the game. In the seventh inning, Ashton Cochran came through with a two-RBI single, cutting into the deficit and bringing the final score to 17-6.
Game 2
The Basics
Location: Frank Loria Stadium
Score: UC 1, SU 7
Records: UC 8-21(5-5MEC), Salem 20-9
How it Happened
Senior Devin Fletcher got the start on the mound for UC. Salem jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, capitalizing on timely hitting and a few Charleston errors. In the first inning, Aaron Forbes got the Tigers on the board with an RBI single, scoring Reese Rinna to make it 1-0. Salem added to its lead in the second inning. Max Castro drove in a run with a single, and later Landon McAlpine brought another home on a fielder's choice, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Tigers kept the pressure on in the third. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded brought in another run, followed by a sacrifice fly from Castro. Salem would tack on yet another run after another hit-by
pitch, pushing the advantage to 6-0. Charleston finally got on the board in the fourth inning when Landon Nida singled to drive in a run, cutting the deficit to 6-1. However, Salem answered right back in
the bottom half, drawing a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-1. The Golden Eagles were unable to generate further offense, while the Tigers added insurance later in the game, aided by a Charleston error in the sixth.
