WHEELING, W. Va. – Wheeling Jesuit plated three two-run innings to take the Monday baseball opener, 8-5, before The University of Virginia's College at Wise edged a 4-3 late decision.
 
The Cardinals (14-23/12-18 Mountain East Conference) pushed across two runs in each of the first three innings capped by a Brock McGivern RBI single and they went on for the three-run victory. The Cavaliers (12-29/11-21 MEC) scored their only two earned runs of four in the top of the fourth and allowed only two home hits in the final four frames for the one-run second-game win.
 
Dillon Sunnafrank continued his big weekend at the plate. The WJU sophomore went 5-for-7 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Sunnafrank also picked up the pitching win to improve to 4-1 over five innings of work.
 
Patrick Ammar had another good hitting day of his own. The senior was 4-for-6 with two doubles, a run and two RBI.
 
Joe San Felippo legged out a triple with two RBI. Anthony Connacher and Chris Minder contributed two hits.
 
On the mound, Josh Kernick logged the final two innings of the opener for his first save of the season.
 
Wheeling Jesuit completes it regular season with a four-game series against rival West Liberty. The first doubleheader starts Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Game 1
 
Tied at 2-2 heading to the bottom of the third inning, the Cardinals edged ahead for the second time with its second two-run at bat. Connacher drove in the first score on a single, before Ammar drove the ball for a double to score him and a 4-2 lead.
 
After UVa-Wise tied the game a second time in the top of the third, Pat Biega had a run-scoring ground out and McGivern a hard liner through the right side for a 6-4 advantage.
 
Wheeling Jesuit scored two the final three runs of the game. An Ammar fifth-inning double and Chris Brake sixth-frame single knocked in the two home scores. Kernik closed the door on the Cavaliers in relief of Sunnafrank for the save.
 
Game 2
 
A San Felippo RBI ground out to first base put WJU ahead, 3-2, after three innings.
 
The Cardinal lead did not last. On two hits, The Cavaliers captured the lead when Bill Steven over third base for a 4-3 advantage.
 
UVa-Wise held Wheeling Jesuit to two hits over the final four innings and none in the final two at bats for one victory of the four-game series.