BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan baseball team swept the doubleheader Tuesday with Notre Dame College, defeating the Falcons 5-4 in both games. Pitching was key as in both games the starter was able to go six innings and the bullpen closed them out.
Game 1
The Falcons had some solid contact in the top of the first, driving multiple balls to deep center but not deep enough as Sam Ingram was able to cover. In the bottom half of the inning, the Bobcats plated the first run of the game off of a Devin Johnson’s one-run single, bringing in Jack Tilton after he doubled. Wesleyan put together some two-out hits in the bottom of the second, leaving empty after a groundout to first.
Notre Dame took the lead in the top of the third, scoring two runs on a double and a single to go up 2-1. The lead didn’t last long as the Bobcats tied it up with a one-run single from Cole Shearer and then Preston Todd opened the game up with a 3-run home run over the left field fence to make it 5-2 after three innings.
In the top of the fifth, the Falcons trimmed the lead to just one on a two-run single over the shortstops head. This wouldn’t shake the Bobcats as Austin Mann came in the bottom of the seventh to get the save and secure AJ Ventry’s third win of the season.
Alec Mendoza led the Falcon offense with two runs-batted-in. Hayden Parker and Johnathan Cook also added an RBI. Erik Demchuk took the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) off of eight hits and two walks.
Preston Todd was the leader of the Bobcats on offense with his home run bringing in three. Ian Donohoe collected two hits with Johnson and Shearer picking up an RBI each. Ventry went six innings, giving up four runs (all earned) off of six hits and walking two. Ventry collected five strikeouts in the outing and Mann picked up his first save of the year.
Game 2
Sam Ingram and Tilton started the bottom of the first with a hit-by-pitch and a walk to put two runners on for the three-hole hitter, Johnson. Johnson took advantage, nailing a liner to left to bring in Ingram. The Falcons tied it up in the top of the third with a single to left after the Bobcats bobbled a possible double play to get out of the inning.
The tie didn’t last long as WVWC plated four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Ingram and Tilton hit back-to-back singles with Ingram eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Johnson tripled home a run and Julio Aguilar followed that up with a one-run double to left. An error by the Falcon defense allowed another run home, making it 5-1 after three innings.
Both sides were quiet offensively until the top of the sixth when Notre Dame got within a run, scoring three runs. The Falcons started off the inning with a single and were able to bring home a run on a one-run double to right. Max Schweiger doubled over the left fielder’s head to plate two more runs but would be gunned down on a bullet from the cutoff man attempting to stretch it to a triple.
Thatcher Poteat was called on to close it out in the seventh inning for the Bobcats. Notre Dame got a runner on second after a walk and a stolen base. Poteat finished strong, closing the game off with three consecutive outs on a groundout and two flyouts, including Ingram’s acrobatic catch in center to end it.
Max Schweiger knocked in two runs to lead the Falcons with Damion Legaspe and Nate Miller adding one RBI apiece. Devin Fish was the losing pitcher, giving up five runs (four earned) off of five hits and one walk in just 2.1 IP. The bullpen only gave up one hit but walked four in 3.2 innings of relief.
Johnson continued his hot streak, going 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Aguilar and Shearer also had an RBI each for the Bobcats. Broderick Rohrbaugh went six innings and got his first win of the season, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and walking three. Poteat got his first save of the year as well.
Up Next For The Bobcats
Wesleyan is set to travel to Wheeling on Saturday and West Liberty on Sunday for doubleheaders starting at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
