Box Score Winston Salem, NC. – The Wheeling University Baseball team (7-4, 0-0) wrapped up their North Carolina Trip on Monday with a single nine-inning game against Carolina U. The Cardinals would end their trip with a series win over the Bruins, and a 4-1 record for the weekend, as they picked up a 7-6 win. The Bruins battled back to make things interesting in the ninth, but Wheeling was able to hold off the push to secure their series win.

Johendry Colmenares made his first start of the 2023 season and was charged with a run in the bottom of the first to put Carolina U up 1-0. However, it was not a long lived lead as the Cardinals picked up their starter right away in the top of the second. Christian Boyles singled to start the inning and was quickly replaced when Garth Charlton reached on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Charlton moved to third on a balk and an error that allowed Kobe Hill to reach first would bring home Charlton and tie the game at 1-1. Both teams had scored an unearned run and both are looking for an advantage in the game. Colmenares responded with a 1-2-3 bottom of the second and the Cardinals would get him his first lead of the day in the top of the third.

Jacob Murray would start the inning with a single and would advance to scoring position on a wild pitch. Spencer Craig grounded out to second to move the runner to third before Thomas Kegerreis launched his second home run of the weekend to left field to put Wheeling ahead 3-1. Colmenares would throw another scoreless inning in the third before giving up two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to end his day. He ended up throwing 4.0 innings allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits while walking one and striking out two. However, the Cardinals offense would have one more push in store as they got the lead back for Colmenares in the top of the fifth.

Scott Kondroik reached on an error and Jacob Murray was hit by a pitch to put two on with nobody out. After a fielder's choice by Spencer Craig put runners at first and third, Kegerreis came through again with a sacrifice fly bringing home Kondroik and making it a 4-3 Wheeling lead. Anthony May would then end the inning with a two-run home run, his first of the season, and the Cardinals had their largest lead of the day at 6-3 after five innings. The score would stay that way up until the ninth inning as Wheeling came to the plate looking for insurance. Jacob Murray would double to start the inning and came home on a Christian Boyles RBI single that made it a 7-3 game. That one run would turn out to be big as the Bruins would mount a comeback attempt.

After a flyout to start the inning, the next two Bruins reached before a three-run home run made it a 7-6 game. That would be the end of the day for Hayden Wilcox, who finished with 4.1 innings of work allowing three runs on seven hits. Hunter Dyck would come in relief and picked up the save retiring the next two batters and securing the 7-6 win. Thomas Kegerreis led the Cardinals with three RBI and, even though he only came up with one hit, it came at a big moment as he helped secure the victory. Anthony May added two RBI and a home run of his own while going 2-4. Christian Boyles would round out the multi-hit efforts, going 2-4 with two RBI.

The Wheeling Baseball team returns to action on Friday, March 10th, when they travel to Salem for the first of a three-game series.