BUCKHANNON — Glenville State slipped past West Virginia Wesleyan, 2-0, at Hank Ellis Field in Game One of a doubleheader, Sunday.
Glenville State’s Grant Landis tossed a complete-game shutout. The right-hander allowed just four hits across seven innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk. Landis faced the minimum in five of the seven innings on just 81 pitches.
Opposing him was Wesleyan’s Hunter Eplin, who was nearly as dominant despite suffering the tough-luck loss. Eplin also worked seven strong innings, striking out eight and allowing only four hits and no earned runs. However, defensive lapses behind him led to two unearned runs in the fourth inning that ultimately decided the contest.
After three scoreless innings, Glenville State finally broke through in the top of the fourth. Catcher Luke Sweigar got things started with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then, a throwing error by Wesleyan shortstop Jack Tilton on a routine grounder allowed Zach Laurie to reach base and Sweigar to score, putting Glenville up 1-0. Moments later, shortstop Adam Bright delivered a clutch RBI triple into the gap, plating Laurie and extending the Pioneer lead to 2-0.
Wesleyan threatened briefly in the third inning when Luke Burner tripled to deep center with two outs, but a flyout by Tilton ended the inning. In the sixth, the Bobcats mounted their most serious rally. Tilton singled with two outs, followed by a single from Grant Shumaker to move him into scoring position. However, Glenville’s Landis bore down, striking out Drew Jrolf to escape the jam.
Glenville completed the doubleheader sweep of Wesleyan with a convincing 8-1 victory.
Unlike the pitchers’ duel in Game One, Glenville wasted little time establishing control in the nightcap. After scratching out single runs in the third and fourth innings, the Pioneers broke the game open with a three-run fifth, highlighted by Laurie’s two-run homer to left center. Laurie finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored, leading a Glenville offense that saw seven players register hits.
Colby Guy turned in a perfect day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs, while Zac Bayor added a 3-for-4 effort, driving in a run and scoring twice.
On the mound, starter Cole Grady was dominant, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out three. He worked out of early trouble in the first inning when Wesleyan threatened but ultimately stranded two baserunners.
The Bobcats managed to avoid the shutout in their final at-bat. Pinch runner Preston Todd advanced to third and scored on a clutch two-out RBI double by Luke Burner. Burner was a bright spot for the Bobcats, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
However, West Virginia Wesleyan struggled overall, recording just five hits while committing one defensive error.
