Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST LIBERTY, W.Va.---The Wheeling Jesuit baseball team split a West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader on the road Saturday afternoon against West Liberty University. The Hilltoppers claimed the opener 2-1 before Jesuit bounced back with an 11-6 game-two victory.
 
In game one, West Liberty plated two unearned runs for a 2-0 advantage by the end of second inning. The Hilltoppers held Jesuit scoreless until the seventh inning When Tim Geibel blasted a solo homerun over the left field fence. WLU pitcher, Mark Smyth, earned a complete game victory, limiting the Cardinals to just four hits with four strikeouts. Jesuit's Parker Lang received the tough loss, scattering three hits with a walk and strikeout.
 
In game two, Jesuit left the bases loaded in the first frame as Geibel and Patrick Ammar delivered back-to-back singles with two outs, and Robbie Davia walked. But, the Cardinal came up empty. In the second inning, West Liberty plated the game's first two runs on a round tripper by Mike Johnson.
 
WLU added a run in the fourth inning on a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly out, however, Jesuit surged for four runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-3 advantage. All nine Cardinal batters made plate appearances during the rally as Cory Wickham was the first to reach base on a Hilltopper fielding error. Next, Geibel singled, and Ammar blasted a two-RBI double to left centerfield. Davia followed with a double to plate Ammar, and after a corey Hull line out to the shortstop, Tyler Kowalczyk singled. A fielder's choice by Nick Briski sent Davia across home plate. Jordan Medley added a single. WLU responded with three runs for a 6-4 lead at the end of the fifth.
 
The following inning, Jesuit tied the game as Wickham earned first base after being hit by a pitch, and Ammar knotted the game with one swing of the bat. Ammar sent a line drive down the left field line for two-RBI and a chance to win the ballgame. The Cardinals held the Hilltoppers scoreless in the final two frames as WJU pitchers Garrett Sancomb and Justin Fritts combined for the two-inning shutout. Sancomb, sixth inning, entered the game and recorded an out before a lefty-on-lefty situation presented itself for Fritts. Fritts entered the game with one out and a man on second base, from a WJU fielding error, and retired the side by strikeouts.
 
In the final inning, Jesuit's offense exploded for five runs. Kowalczyk opened the inning with a hustle-double to shallow centerfield, and Briski followed with a bunt for a base hit. Ammar doubled off the left field fence, plating two runs and totaling six RBI for the game. Davia followed with a sacrifice fly out for a 11-6 advantage. Fritts earned the win for WJU after tossing two groundouts and a strike out to end the game.
 
Ammar led the Cardinals' offense with a 4-for-5 performance which included six RBI and two runs scored while Geibel followed with a 3-for-4 effort with two runs scored and a RBI. Kowalczyk, Briski and Medley added a pair of hits each and Davia had one.
 
Wheeling Jesuit will finish the three-game series with a 9-inning contest on Sunday, April 28 at West Liberty University. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.