CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan baseball team fell to the University of Charleston Saturday in a doubleheader, losing the first two games of a four-game series. The Golden Eagles scored a run in every inning in game one, cruising to a 20-2 victory with 17 hits. In the second game, the Bobcats were shutout 5-0.
Game 1
UC came out hot, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first to gain an early 6-0 lead. The following inning, Charleston added another run on a one-run single but the Bobcats answered with two runs of their own in the top of the third when Eddie Rueda hit a solo shot to right and Sam Ingram brought Luke Burner in on a one-run single. It didn’t take long for Charleston to put the game back out of reach, scoring five runs in the bottom of the third.
In that inning, Charleston hit a two-run home run and a three-run home run, extending their lead to 12-2. The Golden Eagles hit back-to-back solo shots in the bottom of the fourth to make it 14-2 after four innings. UC scored five more runs in the bottom of the fifth including another three-run home run and then scored their 20th run in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Charleston finished the game off in the top of the seventh, taking the 20-2 victory.
UC was led by Tyler Dellerman and Drew Beckner, who totaled four RBIs each. AJ Karosas and Brayden McCallister finished with three RBIs apiece as well. The Golden Eagles had 17 hits and five home runs as a team. Ethan Soderna picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up two runs (both earned) on eight hits and four strikeouts.
Sam Ingram went 3-3 with an RBI to lead the Bobcats. Eueda’s solo home run was his only RBI while also going 2-3. AJ Ventry took the loss, going 2 1/3 innings and allowing nine runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks.
Game 2
UC got on the board in the bottom of the first, plating two runs on a single through the left side. In the bottom of the third, Charleston made it 3-0 on an infield single to the mound.
Home runs were the story in the first game and UC didn’t go without one in game two, extending their lead to five with a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the sixth. WVWC opened up with a walk the top of the seventh but consecutive groundouts ended the game as Charleston went on to win 5-0.
Andre Martinez went 3-3 with three RBIs to lead the Golden Eagle offense. Carter Rust’s pinch hit two-run home run gave him two RBIs on the day. Cole Peschi went five innings, earning the win after giving up no runs on five hits and striking out nine.
Thatcher Poteat was the only Bobcat to have more than one hit, finishing with two. Drew Evans pitched six innings, surrendering five runs (all earned) on eight hits and four walks while striking out six.
