Florence, KY — Thomas More got its 2025 season off to a strong start, securing a pair of hard-fought victories over West Virginia Wesleyan in a doubleheader at UC Health Stadium on Friday. The Saints claimed a 3-1 win in the opener before shutting out the Bobcats 4-0 in the nightcap, riding dominant pitching performances and timely hitting to complete the sweep.
Game 1: Thomas More 3, West Virginia Wesleyan 1
After a scoreless first inning, Thomas More struck first in the bottom of the second. Derek Marinucci singled, and Riley Poston followed with a clutch RBI triple to put the Saints up 1-0.
West Virginia Wesleyan managed to even the score in the fourth inning. Thatcher Poteat reached on an error, and after a pair of walks, he came around to score on another defensive miscue, tying the game at 1-1.
Thomas More responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on a leadoff walk from Poston. Pinch-runner Brady Schnierer moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before Gavin Vogelgesang delivered with an RBI double to reclaim the lead. Gunner Kalkhoff followed up with a single to drive in Vogelgesang, extending the Saints’ advantage to 3-1.
The Saints’ right-hander Austin Dennis set the tone early, allowing just two hits and one unearned run over five innings while striking out six. He kept the Bobcats’ offense in check, working around three walks and a hit batter. Ethan Stone took over in the sixth and shut the door, striking out three over two scoreless innings to earn the save.
West Virginia Wesleyan’s Hunter Eplin (0-1) took the loss, pitching five innings while giving up four hits, three runs, and two walks with two strikeouts. An. Hernande provided solid relief in the sixth, allowing no hits and striking out one.
Game 2: Thomas More 4, West Virginia Wesleyan 0
The Saints wasted no time taking the lead, scoring in the bottom of the first after AJ Enginger doubled and later came around to score on a catcher’s error.
They added insurance runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, with Miguel Correa (3-for-3, 1 RBI) and Ben Duncan (1-for-3, 1 RBI) delivering key hits. Correa’s RBI single in the third plated Vogelgesang, who had an outstanding game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
In the fourth, Chad Atchley tripled to set up Duncan’s RBI single, extending the lead to 3-0. The Saints capped their scoring in the fifth, when Correa doubled and was driven home by Kalkhoff.
The Bobcats struggled at the plate, collecting only three hits Jack Tilton, Poteat, and Isaac Lough were the only players to register hits, with no runners advancing past second base.
Wesleyan’s best scoring chance came in the third, when Ethan Fraley reached on an error and advanced to second on a balk. However, Thomas More’s Jack Perdue shut the door with back-to-back strikeouts, and the Bobcats never threatened again.
Perdue (1-0) was in complete control from the start, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out six. The right-hander never allowed a baserunner past second base and needed just 25 batters to get through seven efficient innings. His dominance kept the Bobcats off balance all game, as they struggled to make any offensive headway.
On the other side, West Virginia Wesleyan’s Anthony Hernandez (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on seven hits over three innings. While he minimized the damage, Thomas More’s consistent contact proved too much.
