Charleston, W. Va. – It was a windy day in Charleston, West Virginia on Saturday as the Wheeling University Baseball team (9-6, 0-2) opened up Mountain East Conference (MEC) play. They battled in two close games with the #6 team in the Atlantic Region in the University of Charleston, but ended up dropping both games to begin their conference slate. They fell in game one to the Golden Eagles 5-4 and came back in game two and once again battled but once again fell to the Golden Eagles 3-1.

Game One: Charleston 5, Wheeling 4

The first game of the day saw the Cardinals get off to a hot start both at the plate and on the mound. Johendry Colmenares made his second start of the season and was rolling through the first three innings. He allowed just two hits over those three innings and was just three batters over the minimum after three innings of work. He faced just three batters in the first, with the help of a big inning-ending double play and his only other hit during those first three innings came in the third. He walked one batter and was pounding the strike zone on a consistent basis. The Cardinals offense would get him the lead in the second inning and he would roll with it.

That top of the second inning began with an infield single from Braeden Killens and it brought Spencer Craig to the plate. The sophomore continued his hot start to the 2023 season, launching his second home run of the season to center field and putting the Cardinals ahead 2-0. However, the next three Cardinals were retired and Wheeling would stick to their 2-0 lead. That lead would remain through the fourth inning, when Charleston got on the board for the first time to make it 2-1 Wheeling after four innings. However, in the bottom of the fifth a pair of walks and a stolen base put runners on second and third with one out. After an intentional walk to Tyler Dellerman, a bases loaded walk tied the game and ended the night for Colmenares.

Hunter Dyck would then come in relief and, after getting the inning's second out, gave up a three-RBI single that gave Charleston their first lead of the day at 5-2. That would close the book on Colmenares, who went 4.1 innings giving up five runs, four earned, on three hits while walking six and striking out two. Dyck would get those final two outs, allowing one hit and striking out one. The Cardinals responded in the top of the sixth as Killens once again got things started, this time reaching on an error. Garth Charlton added a single and Aidan Willard would bring both runners home with a two-RBI double to make it 5-4. However, a flyout and a strikeout would end the inning and keep it a one-run game.

After a scoreless bottom of the sixth for Kyle Dalton, the Cardinals would have one more at-bat in the top of the seventh. Craig would be the only runner to reach, via a walk, but the game would come to an end with Charleston winning 5-4. Spencer Craig led the way for the Cardinals, going 1-2 with a home run and two RBI on the day, hitting his second home run of the season. Aidan Willard added a 1-3 day driving in the other two RBI and hitting a double on the day. Garth Charlton added a hit in his only at-bat of the day, going 1-1 with a run scored. As they entered day two, the Cardinals were looking to salvage a game and earn the split over Charleston.

Game Two: Charleston 3, Wheeling 1

The second game of the day ran the exact opposite course of the first game, with both teams getting on the board early and both pitching staffs dominating at the end. Kody McCarley made his team leading fifth start of the season in game one, bringing with him a 15.0 straight inning scoreless streak. Unfortunately, that string was broken in the bottom of the first as the Golden Eagles added two runs to take a 2-0 lead after one. Wheeling responded in the top of the second as Anthony May got things started with a double. Lucas Rawlins and Nicholas Ancelet were retired for the first two outs and May moved up to third with two away. Garth Charlton would pick up the runner with a two-out RBI single and cut the Charleston lead to 2-1.

McCarley responded with a 1-2-3 bottom of the second inning, but was charged with one more run in the third to make it a 3-1 game. After giving up the third run of the day, McCarley went into lockdown mode the rest of the way, throwing up three straight zeroes to end the day. He allowed just one hit over the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings and only had three other batters reach base. He finished the complete-game effort throwing 6.0 innings allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits while walking one and striking out three. He kept his streak going of allowing two earned runs or less in each of his first five starts and gave his team a chance to win throughout the day.

However, for as good as McCarley pitched, Charleston's Dame Sykes was just as good in relief. The Cardinals got just three hits over his four innings of work, with their biggest threat coming in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Spencer Craig drew a walk and Anthony May singled to move runners to first and third. However, a fly out would end the inning and keep Charleston in front 3-1. In the seventh, the Cardinals would go 1-2-3 and ended up dropping the finale 3-1. Garth Charlton had the team's lone RBI, going 1-3, and Anthony May added a 2-3 effort as the only Cardinal with multiple hits in the game. The Cardinals look to bounce back on Sunday as they continue their MEC opening weekend.

The Wheeling University Baseball team returns to action Sunday when they take on West Virginia State in doubleheader action with first pitch at 1 PM. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.