Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Baseball Team (22-16, 11-11) have been powered recently by their lineup, scoring 36 runs over their past three games. The offense was at it again on Friday as the Cardinals earned a big sweep over Fairmont State and keep hold of one of the three playoff spots in the MEC North. Wheeling came out hot in the first game to win 11-5 and used come from behind dramatics to win game two 7-6 to complete the sweep.

Game One: Wheeling 11, Fairmont State 6

After the offense exploded for 18 runs in game one, the Cardinals continued that momentum in game two with another double-digit run effort. Hayden Wilcox would come in as the opener and ended up being charged with three runs in the top of the first. Kody McCarley would take over in the top of the second and calmed things down with a scoreless inning to bring Wheeling back to the plate. The Cardinals responded as Thomas Kegerreis got things going with a two-out single. It brought up Scott Kondroik, who would send a two-run home run down the left field line to make it a 3-2 game after two innings.

The Cardinals would take their first lead of the game in the next half-inning as Christian Boyles started things with a walk. Spencer Craig would follow with a single and Braden Killens stepped in with two on and nobody out. He would come through with a three-run home run out to right field to give Wheeling their first lead of the day at 5-3. The home run would break the single-season home run record as he lifted his ninth home run of the season. Jacob Murray would then strikeout, but got all the way to third after a dropped third strike and a throwing error. Lucas Rawlins would pick him up with an RBI single and after three innings Wheeling was stakes to a 6-3 lead. 

McCarley was charged with his first two runs of the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-RBI double by Fairmont's Ryan Goff, but kept it at that with his team leading 6-5. Wheeling got those two runs back in the bottom half of the inning as Garth Charlton walked to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him up to second and Boyles brought him home with a single through the right side. Boyles would then steal second and an error allowed him to come home as Spencer Craig reached, and after three it was an 8-5 Cardinal lead.

McCarley would settle in after that with a 1-2-3 top of the fifth before he had to leave the game in the top of the sixth. All-in-all, McCarley lasted 4.2 innings giving up two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out six. Jake Rife would come on to get the final out of the inning and after five and a half it was an 8-5 Cardinal's lead. Wheeling would get their final three runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth after Craig doubled followed by a hit-by-pitch for Killens and a walk by Murray. Kegerreis would step in with the bases loaded and lined a three-RBI double to clear the bases and make it an 11-5 Wheeling lead. Hunter Dyck would come in for the final three outs of the game and gave up a run before closing out an 11-6 Wheeling win.

Thomas Kegerreis would lead the way for the Cardinals, going 2-4 with a double and three RBI, including the hit that sealed the victory. Braden Killens added a 1-3 day with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI as he set the new single-season home run record with his ninth home run of the year. Scott Kondroik rounded out the day, finishing 1-2 with a two-run home run and two RBI. The Cardinals would look to complete the sweep of day one of the series to set themselves up for day two.

Game Two: Wheeling 7, Fairmont State 6

The early portions of game two featured a potcher's duel between Fairmont State starter Logan McClure and Wheeling starter Kenny Jinks. Both pitchers were rolling early in the game with 12 of the first 13 batters being retired in the game. However, a Cardinal error in the top of the third would open the flood gates. Fairmont State would take advantage with a six-spot in the inning as they took a 6-0 lead. Of those six runs, four were earned for Jinks as the Cardinals would have to work back in the game. Jinks bounced back with a clean top of the fourth allowing a single, and then ending the inning with a caught stealing by Anthony May to get his team back in the dugout.

Braden Killens would draw a walk to start the inning and Jacob Murray got a big game started at the plate. He lifted a two-run home run to left field and the Cardinals were on the board to make it a 6-2 Fairmont State lead. After a flyout, Thomas Kegerreis and Scott Kondroik added back-to-back singles and Kondroik stole second to put runners at second and third with one away. Anthony May would come through with a single and Kegerreis scored to cut the Red's lead in half to 6-3. The bottom of the fifth saw Killens strikeout to start the inning before Murray came back to the plate. He lifted his second home run of the game, an absolute moonshot to left field and it was a 6-4 game after five.

Jinks did his job, throwing up three zeroes after allowing the six runs and left with the score sitting at 6-4 in favor of Fairmont State. Jinks would last six innings allowing the six runs, four earned, on seven hits while walking one and striking out three. The Cardinals came back in the bottom of the sixth trailing by two and looking to get something going. After back-to-back strikeouts to start the inning, Christian Boyles battled to work a two-out walk. That brought Spencer Craig to the plate, and he also worked deep into the count. He was looking fast all and got one as he sent a towering two-run shot to the right field corner and the game was tied at 6-5. Killens would then be hit by a pitch and Murray walked to put two on and two out. The Cardinals would get another piece of clutch hitting as an RBI single from Lucas Rawlins scored Killens and made it a 7-6 Wheeling lead.

With the lead on their side, Johendry Colmenares entered the game with a chance to earn his first save of the season. The Falcons threatened with a deep fly ball to left center field, but Christian Boyles tracked it down making a huge diving catch on the track for the first out of the inning. Colmenares would get two more pio outs to end the innning and Wheeling went on to complete the sweep with a 7-5 win that evened the Cardinals conference record at 11-11.

Jacob Murray would lead the way for the Cardinals, going 2-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI to go along with a walk. Spencer Craig added a 1-4 day at the plate, but that hit was crucial as he launched a two run and drove in two RBI. Lucas Rawlins and Anthony May would drive in the final two RBI of the day to secure the win. That win went to starting pitcher Kenny Jinks, who is now 7-1, and he has died former Cardinal Noah Mull for the most wins in a single season.

The Wheeling University Baseball team is waitung for inclement weather to roll through to determine when they will return to action. They will play games three and four of this series on either Sunday, April 23rd, at 3 PM or Monday, April 24th at 12 PM.