BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The Bobcat baseball team earned a split in Sunday's doubleheader against West Liberty University at Hank Ellis Field, dropping the opener 11-3 before bouncing back with a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
West Liberty struck quickly in the opener, scoring three runs in the top of the first on a run-scoring single from Evan Tice and a two-run single by Luke Foley. Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the second when
Dylan Neach launched a solo home run and
Grant Smith added an RBI groundout to trim the deficit to 3-2.
The game turned in the fourth. After putting two runners aboard to open the inning, West Liberty broke through with an RBI single by Lu. Marsh, then Tice delivered the decisive blow with a four-run homer to center as the Hilltoppers scored six times in the frame to build a 9-2 lead. Austin Wittreich later added an RBI double in the inning as West Liberty seized full momentum.
Wesleyan threatened in spots, including a fourth-inning chance after
Malik Wood doubled and
Coleman Cross walked, but the Bobcats were unable to cash in. West Liberty added two more runs in the seventh on another two-run single from Marsh before Wesleyan pushed across its final run in the bottom half on
Alex Smith's RBI single.
Neach paced the Bobcats offensively in game one with a home run, while
Alex Smith and
Grant Smith each drove in a run.
Isaac Lough and
Malik Wood also contributed hits, with Wood collecting a double. West Liberty was led by Tice, who went 2-for-4 with five RBI, and Marsh, who drove in three. West Liberty finished with 11 runs on 10 hits, while Wesleyan totaled three runs on seven hits.
The Bobcats flipped the script in game two, using a sharp defensive game and a pivotal middle-innings surge to secure the split. After West Liberty took a 1-0 lead in the second on Giacomo Dolce's RBI single, Wesleyan starter
Anthony Hernandez settled in and kept the Hilltoppers from extending the margin through the next two innings.
Wesleyan broke through in the fourth.
Grant Shumaker reached on an error to start the inning, and after
Matthew Neach walked,
Carter Collins reached on an error that allowed the tying run to score.
Dylan Neach followed with an RBI single, and
Isaac Lough added an RBI fielder's choice as the Bobcats plated three runs to move in front 3-1.
The Bobcats added what proved to be the game-winning run in the fifth.
Coleman Cross singled, moved up on a groundout, and scored when Shumaker lined an RBI single and advanced to second. That run gave Wesleyan a 4-1 advantage heading into the late innings.
West Liberty made one final push in the seventh. Lucas Marsh was hit by a pitch, Bodee Latocha walked, and Dolce singled to load the bases. Hunter White then singled home two runs to cut the margin to 4-3, and the Hilltoppers brought the tying and go-ahead runs aboard. But Wesleyan held firm to close out the one-run win and finish the day with the split.
Hernandez earned the win for Wesleyan, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings while striking out one.
Austin Mann worked the seventh to preserve the victory. Mason Bille took the loss for West Liberty. Wesleyan's defense was a major factor in the nightcap, playing error-free baseball, while West Liberty committed three errors.
The Bobcats go on the road to Bluefield State University on Wednesday, Mar. 25 for a doubleheader that starts at noon.
