Wheeling, W. Va. – After getting a sweep against Notre Dame College to open the weekend, the Wheeling University Baseball team (16-14, 7-9) was looking to keep the momentum going on day two. However, the second day did not go the Cardinals way as they dropped both games to earn a split of the series. The Cardinals dropped a 10-inning affair 7-6 in game one and fell in a 14-11 game in game two as both offenses hit their stride throughout the day.

Game One: Notre Dame College 7, Wheeling 6 (10 Inn)

The Cardinals began day two of the weekend series with the Falcons by sending Kenny Jinks to the mound for the game one start. He got things started off on the right foot, putting together a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first and followed it with an identical inning in the top of the second. However, the Cardinals were held hitless over the first two innings as well and two Falcon runs in the top of the third gave Notre Dame College a 2-0 lead. Wheeling was again set down 1-2-3 in the third inning before Braden Killens broke through with a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth. A passed ball moved him to second base before Thomas Kegerreis got Wheeling on the board with an RBI Double that made it a 2-1 game.

That hit would start a two-out Cardinal rally as Kobe Hill followed with an RBI single and an error allowed Anthony May to reach and brought Hill all the way around from first. The Cardinals were staked to their first lead of the day at 3-2 and headed into the fifth looking to add on. They did just that in the bottom half of the fifth as Christian Boyles doubled to start things off. Spencer Craig would single to move runners to the corners and Jacob Murray would bring in the fourth Cardinal run of the day to with a sacrifice fly that gave Wheeling a 4-2 lead. However, a three-spot in the top of the sixth would put Notre Dame College back in front 6-4. It would also spell the end of the day for Jinks, who lasted 5.2 innings allowing four runs on one hit while walking seven and striking out four.

The Cardinals would answer back in the bottom of the sixth as Kobe Hill walked to start things off. Garth Charlton would follow with a single two batters later and Nic Ancelet was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Boyles made it a one-run game with a bases loaded walk and Craig would tie things up with a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 6-6. Both teams would go 1-2-3 in the seventh inning and the game moved to extra innings. Hunter Dyck got the ball for the Cardinals and worked 3.1 innings of relief, pitching into the 10th inning of the game. That is when Notre Dame College would push the game winning run across and the Cardinals went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 10th to bring the game to its final score of 7-6.

Spencer Craig led the way for the Cardinals, going 2-4 with an RBI. He was one of five different Cardinals who finished the game with one RBI with Jacob Murray, Christian Boyles, and Thomas Kegerreis each driving in a run. Braden Killens was the other Cardinal to finish with two hits on the day, going 2-4 with a run scored. The Cardinals looked to bounce back in game two and take three of four in the series.

Game Two: Notre Dame College 14, Wheeling 11

In game two, the two offenses took off as Wheeling and Notre Dame College combined to score 25 runs in the game. It started right away in the top of the first as the Flacons out five runs on the board to take a 5-0 lead before the Cardinals came back to the plate. The Cardinals did get one run back in the bottom of the first as Christian Boyles started things off with a single. He then used his legs to generate a run, stealing second before moving to third on a groundout. He scored on a passed ball and after one Notre Dame College had a 5-1 lead. Notre Dame College pushed another run across in the top of the second and Wheeling found themselves down 6-1 after one and a half. The Cardinals were not about to back down as they came out swinging again in the bottom of the second.

Thomas Kegerreis would reach on an error to start the inning and a one-out single by Garth Charlton and a walk from Aidan Willard loaded the bases with one out. Boyles would be at it again as he lined a two RBI double to right field as Wheeling cut the Flacon lead to 6-3. After a flyout for out number two, Jacob Murray stepped in and lifted a three run home run to tie the game at 6-6. With twelve runs on the board after two innings, neither pitching staff were able to find their groove. The third and fourth inning were the first two scoreless innings of the game as Jared Naida came on in relief and was able to keep the game tied for two innings. However, four Falcon runs in the top of the fifth inning broke the streak and Notre Dame College was back out in front 10-6.

Another Falcon error got things started in the bottom half of the inning and a pair of one out singles once again loaded the bases. Spencer Craig picked up his first hit of the game with a two RBI double and the Cardinals made it a 10-8 game. After a strikeout, Killens stepped in and lined a two RBI double to pick up the other two runners and once again tied the game at 10-10. After picking up gus 100th career hit earlier in the game, Lucas Rawlins came through with an RBI single scoring Killens and Wheeling had their first lead of the game at 11-10. The Cardinals held that lead into the top of the seventh, but another Notre Dame College run made it 11-11 and sent the second straight game to extra innings. This time it would end in eight as three Notre Dame College runs in the top of the eighth would end the game and give the Falcons the 14-12 win.

Jacob Murray led the way for the Cardinals, going 2-5 with a home run and three RBI in the loss. Fellow senior Lucas Rawlins added three RBI of his own while picking up three hits and going 3-5 on the  day, including his 100th career collegiate. Braden Killens, Christian Boyles, and Spencer Craig each drove in a pair of runs to round out the big offensive day. The two losses drops Wheeling to 7-9 in MEC play and wraps up the season series with the Cardinals going 2-2 against the Falcons.

The Wheeling University Baseball team returns to action on Tuesday for a non-conference nine inning road game against Clarion with first pitch at 3 PM.