WHEELING, W. Va. – Brock McGivern's safety-squeeze bunt gave pitcher Joe San Felippo the only run he needed in a five-hit shutout for Wheeling Jesuit's 1-0 win over West Liberty. The Hilltoppers edged a 3-2 opening win on a run-scoring Yale Hughes double.
                                  
After the Cardinals (15-24/14-20 Mountain East Conference) tied the game 2-2 in the home fifth, the Hilltoppers' (27-18/21-13 MEC) Yale Hughes doubled home Tim Mirandy for the game-deciding run and opening victory.
 
In a scoreless contest, Cody Hudson and Shaun Gaydos lead off the bottom of the fifth with singles. McGivern executed a safety squeeze bunt to allow Hudson to slide across home plate for the WJU run. San Felippo allowed two seventh-inning hits, before right fielder Dillon Sunnafrank's diving catch ended the game and persevered the 1-0 shutout.
 
Between games, WJU honored its seven team seniors – Antonio Acierno, Richie Brown, Tyler Kowalczyk, Patrick Ammar, Cullen Hinderliter, Aaron Dinterman and Josh Kernik.
 
At the plate, Cardinals' Anthony Connacher, Ammar and Kowalczyk lined two singles apiece.
 
San Felippo (2-3) struck out five Hilltopper hitters to go with the five hits, all singles, in seven innings of work.
 
West Liberty Anthony Pierro singled three times, while Yale Hughes doubled and singled.
 
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 two rivals finish their four-game series Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game 1
 
A Mirandy sac fly and a Yale Hughes run-scoring ground out gave West Liberty a 2-0 advantage in the top of the second.
 
Ammar provided the WJU offense. After he singled to get on base, the senior walked home on a West Liberty balk in the bottom of the fourth. In the home fifth, Ammar lofted a sac fly to score McGivern to tie the game, 2-2.
 
Yale Hughes put the Hilltoppers back on top with a two-out double to right field and 3-2 lead. Pitcher Mark Smyth retired the final six Wheeling Jesuit hitters for the win.
 
Game 2
 
In a second tight contest, the Cardinals scored the lone run in the fifth frame. Hudson singled and ran to third on Gaydos hit-and-run through the right side to start the at bat. Following a strike out, McGivern laid down the safety sqeeze and allowed Hudson to score, 1-0.
 
With one out in the top of the seventh, Yale Hughes and Jon-Michael Brunner lined singles.  San Felippo worked out of a third jam on the bases via a strike out and Sunnafrank diving catch inches off the ground to preserve the shutout.