NUTTER FORT, W.Va. (March 17) – The Wheeling University pitching staff combined to strike out 13 and limit Salem to four hits in a 6-3 non-conference win Wednesday night.
 
THE MATCHUP

• Final Score: Wheeling 6, Salem 3 (9 innings)
• Records: Wheeling 4-3 | Salem 2-11
• Location: Frank Loria Field | Nutter Fort, West Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After three and half scoreless innings, Salem got on the board with the help of two bases-loaded walks to put the Cardinals in a 2-0 hole.
• Wheeling loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, when junior right fielder Chris Iazzetta (Clinton, N.J./IMG Academy) drove in two to tie the game up.
• Junior shortstop Connor Watt (Roanoke, Va./Glenvar) gave Wheeling a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly.
• The Cardinals tacked on insurance runs with back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning by senior Hayden Hizer (Paden City, W.Va./Paden City) and senior center fielder Bryen Kimbrough (Southhampton, Pa./Pennsbury) to make the score 6-2.
• Salem threatened in the ninth. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out and plated one run, but the final two batters were retired to end the game.

GAME NOTES

• Eight Wheeling pitchers combined to hold Salem to four hits with 13 strikeouts.
• Senior Ricky Bones, Jr. (Miami, Fla./Hallandale) earned the win after tossing a scoreless sixth inning.
• Senior Albert Baez (Fort Worth, Texas/Timber Creek) pitched the final two innings to pick up his third save of the season.
• Iazzetta and Varriano each drove in two runs to lead the Cardinal offense.

UP NEXT

• The Cardinals will enter Mountain East Conference (MEC) play this weekend when they travel to play both Concord and Glenville State.
• Wheeling is currently slated to travel to Concord on Saturday, followed by a twinbill with Glenville State on Sunday.
• Stay tuned to WUCardinals.com for any schedule changes.