WJU Baseball -- Weekend Preview -- Cardinals Look to Bounce Back Versus Rams

By: Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

WJU welcomes the Shepherd Rams to town for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

Baseball | 4/11/2017 3:03:00 PM

WHEELING, W.Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit baseball team looks to end its current losing streak this weekend when the Cardinals welcome the Shepherd Rams to town.

WJU and Shepherd will face off in a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15.

2016 Season Series:
Shepherd claimed all four games from the Cardinals. In the first day's doubleheader, WJU fell 2-1 and 19-10. Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in game one, but Cody Hudson brought home Christopher Minder in the seventh inning to make it a one-run contest. Dillon Sunnafrank threw six frames and allowed just three hits and two runs while striking out five.

In game two, Shepherd tagged Wheeling Jesuit for nine runs in the first frame, but Sunnafrank and WJU would fight back. In the second, Sunnafrank homered to left to put WJU on the board. He finished the afternoon 2-5 with two runs and a RBI. Minder finished 3-4 with two runs scored and a RBI while Christopher Brake and Jagger Bruck each finished with two hits and two runs scored.

In game three, Shepherd scored in the fourth and fifth innings to squeeze its way past WJU, 4-2. Game three was all Shepherd, as the Rams were victorious, 17-5. Logan Menear and Kyle Rees each tossed an inning of work while allowing just one run. Nine Cardinals had a base hit apiece, led by Minder's two RBI's.

WJU stat leaders:
At the plate, Dalton Davis leads the way with 22 hits on the season. Davis is hitting .289 and has drove in nine runners. Drake May ranks second with 21 hits and a .259 batting average. Matthew Angelini and RJ Harris have 17 and 16 hits, respectively. Dillon Sunnafrank is hitting .256 with 11 hits and six RBI's.

On the hill, Michael Finch has tossed a team-high 37 innings and allowed just 10 earned runs to score. Finch occupies a 2.43 ERA and a 1-2 record. Josh Bell comes into the weekend with a 1-5 record over 30.2 innings of work. Bell has struck out 15 hitters and has a 4.99 ERA. Benjamin Standiford looks to get his first win of the season, as he has worked 20 innings to the tune of a 2.70 ERA.

Shepherd stat leaders:
Jacob Carney leads the Rams with a .358 average over 109 at bats. He has tallied 39 hits, 12 RBI's, and 30 runs on the season. JJ Sarty is hitting .319 with 37 hits, six home runs, and 23 RBI's. Daniel Heleine has blasted 10 home runs and driven in 30 RBI's.

John Bentley leads the way with 44.1 innings pitched. Bentley is 3-4 with a 5.48 ERA and has struck out 39 hitters. Ryan Pansch has thrown 40 innings and has a 2.93 ERA. Pansch has struck out 37 hitters.

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