WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan baseball team was swept in the doubleheader at West Liberty Monday afternoon, dropping their MEC record to 3-5 and their overall mark to 7-13. The Bobcats fell 11-3 in game one and 7-0 in the second game, only putting together six hits on the day.
Game 1
After setting Wesleyan down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, the Hilltoppers scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to go up 2-0 early. West Liberty extended their lead in the bottom of the second with a two-run double down the left field line. The Bobcats cut the deficit to just one in the top of the third when a Devin Johnson single, Matthew Neach sacrifice fly and Preston Todd walk made it 4-3.
The one run deficit didn’t last long as WLU plated two runs in the bottom half of the third with an one-run double and a one-run single. Even with the Hilltoppers scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch, the Bobcats stayed within striking distance until West Liberty created major separation in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on a hit and two errors by the Bobcat defense.
WVWC couldn’t muster any offense in the top of the seventh as they took the 11-3 loss in the first game of the doubleheader.
Noah Mildren knocked in three runs and Trevor Thomas batted in two to led the Hilltopper offense. Jacob Sherman added two hits alongside Midren’s two hits. Drake Dobson pitched a complete game and was rewarded the win, giving up three runs (all unearned) on two hits and four walks while striking out seven.
Johnson, Todd and Neach all had an RBI for the Bobcats. Eli Brogan took the loss after struggling early on, pitching 1 1/3 innings and surrendering four runs (all earned) on two hits, three walks and two wild pitches.
Game 2
Early offense was the key to victory for West Liberty in the second game of the day, scoring six out of their seven runs in the first three innings of the game. In the bottom of the first, the Hilltoppers put up a three spot on the board with a solo home run, a one-run double and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded that brought home a run. Two more runs were scored in the bottom of the second on an one-run double to the left-center gap and a fielder’s choice that resulted in an RBI.
The Bobcats put runners on base in the opening innings but couldn’t plate those runners, stranding two in the first and one in the second. West Liberty’s Ty Helmke hit his second solo shot of the day in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 6-0. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth closed the scoring for the rest of the game as the Bobcats were able to hit a pair of singles in the closing innings but no other offense would be added. WLU closed out strong, taking the second game 7-0.
Ty Helmke 3-4 and two home run performance at the plate led the Hilltoppers. Ryan Talbert added two RBIs as well to aid the offense. Ethan Conley went the distance to pick up the win, giving up no runs on four hits and four walks.
Johnson had two hits to lead the Bobcats as Jack Tilton and Sam Ingram added a hit apiece. Broderick Rohrbaugh went 4 2/3 innings, taking the loss after giving up seven runs (five earned) off of seven hits.
Up Next For The Bobcats
Wesleyan plays their fifth game in three days on Tuesday as they travel to Charleston to take on West Virginia Tech at GoMart Ballpark with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
