WHEELING, W.Va. (April 28) – The Wheeling Jesuit University baseball team fell twice to Urbana in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) doubleheader at the JB Chambers Complex Sunday afternoon on Senior Day.
The Cardinals drop to 9-33 overall, 6-20 in the MEC with the pair of losses. The Blue Knights improve to 8-20 in league play, 14-29 on the season with the pair of wins.
GAME ONE: Urbana 10, Wheeling Jesuit 1
The first game of the series was tied until the fourth inning when Urbana rallied with two outs to make the contest one-sided.
The Blue Knights scored a run in their first time up to bat to go up 1-0.
Junior outfielder Philip Derick (Prattsburgh, N.Y./Prattsburgh Central) belted a RBI-double down the left field line in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1.
The momentum shifted in the top of the fourth when a fielding error with two outs by the Cardinals allowed Urbana to go on a six-run tear.
UU added to its lead with one run in the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth inning.
Junior starting pitcher Tanner Evans (Bergholz, Ohio/Edison Local) had a respectable outing on the mound despite taking the loss. He only allowed two earned runs in his 5.1 innings pitched.
The opposing starting pitcher Dylan Whisman was extremely efficient, throwing just 80 pitches in a complete-game performance.
GAME TWO: Urbana 7, Wheeling Jesuit 6
Wheeling Jesuit was unable to hold on to a late lead in the second game of the series.
Urbana picked up two runs in the top of the first to take an early lead.
With base runners on the corners in the bottom of the second, freshman catcher Bryan Courts (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Central Catholic) singled into right field to cut the Blue Knights' lead in half, 2-1.
A stalemate ensued until the top of the fifth when Urbana was able to drive in two runs and increase its advantage to 4-1.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, junior outfielder Zach Blumling (Granville, Ohio/Granville) cleared the bases with a double that bounced off the left field fence. Blumling was then able to cross home plate himself off a line-drive single by senior TJ Jacob (Martins Ferry, Ohio/Martins Ferry) into center field and give the Cardinals a 5-4 lead.
The Blue Knights responded immediately in the top of the sixth with a run that tied the game at 5-5.
Freshman third baseman Jacob Murray (Beallsville, Ohio/Linsly) ripped a single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the sixth to produce the go-ahead run for the Cardinals, 6-5.
With two down and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Urbana got the hit it needed to reclaim the lead.
WJU was unable to find the inspiration it needed in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Seniors Adam Dennison, Jeffrey Patrick, Logan Menear and Jacob were recognized prior to the start of the doubleheader for their contributions to the team over the past four years.
The Cardinals will play at home for the last time this season when they face West Liberty in a MEC doubleheader on Friday, May 3. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
