Charleston, W. Va. – Coming into Friday morning's game at GoMart Ballpark, the Wheeling University Baseball team (29-21, 17-13) was set for a win or go home scenario as they took on West Liberty in "The Battle for Wheeling." They fell behind early, and got their power stroke going as a pair of home runs lifted the Cardinals to a 5-3 victory. It was the first MEC Tournament win in program history, and the first playoff win since the 2011 season when they beat Seton Hill in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Tournament.
The Cardinals went with an opener for their elimination game as
Hayden Wilcox got the start. He retired the Hilltoppers in order in the first and brought Wheeling to the plate in a 0-0 game. The Cardinals hit the ball hard in the bottom of the first, with two fly balls to the track, but nothing went over the wall. The Hilltoppers would be the first ones on the board in the top of the second, playing a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Wheeling was trying to find its way into the hit column, being held hitless through the game's first three innings of play. That string was broken in the bottom of the fourth when
Braden Killens stepped up with two outs. He lined a single into right field to get the Cardinals off and running.
Hunter Dyck, who came on in relief in the second, threw 2.1 scoreless innings to keep it a 2-0 game and the Cardinals offense would reward him in the bottom of the fifth.
After a groundout started the inning,
Thomas Kegerreis would reach on an error to put a runner on and one out.
Scott Kondroik was hit by a pitch and an infield fly rule brought on the second out of the inning. Nic Ancelet would then step in in a big spot with two on and two out and sent a three-run home run over the left center field wall to give the Cardinals their first lead of the day at 3-2. It was Ancelet's second home run of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time to get the Cardinals going. The Hilltoppers would get a run back in the top of the sixth with an RBI double by James Salvatori that made it a 3-3 game heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Kody McCarley came in relief for the top of the sixth inning and would get a huge groundout to minimize the inning and keep it tied.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Spencer Craig would lead things off by drawing a walk on a 3-2 pitch to bring Killens to the plate. After picking up the first hit for his team, Killens would come through again, this time with a two-run bomb to the scoreboard in left center field. It was his second home run of the tournament for Killens, and his 12th of the season as the Cardinals had their third lead of tournament play. After giving his team 4.0 strong innings in the MEC Tournament opener, McCarley had a two-run lead and once again was dominant. He retired the side in order in the top of the 7th and allowed one base runner in the top of the 8th to send Wheeling into the ninth ahead 5-3. After an error allowed the leadoff man to reach second, a one-out walk put runners at first and second with one out.
The runner advanced to third on a one out fly out and with two outs McCarley needed one more out to secure the program's first MEC Tournament win. He would face Trevor Thomas and fell behind on a 2-1 count. Thomas gave the ball a ride to center field , but Ancelet was there to make the catch and secure Wheeling's 5-3 victory. They handed West Liberty their first loss of the MEC Tournament and won their third game against the Hilltoppers this season to stay alive and advance to tomorrow's semifinals.
Braden Killens led the way for the Cardinals, getting them started and hitting the game-winning blast. He finished 2-4 with a home run and two RBI on the day as he now has two home runs during the tournament. Nic Ancelet got his first hit of the MEC Tournament, and it came at a big moment as he went 1-3 with his home run and three RBI. The offense finished the day with three total hits, but they came at timely moments as they squeaked out the victory. The Cardinals now advance to the tournament semifinals as they get set to take on the #1 seed from the MEC South in the University of Charleston.
The Wheeling University Baseball team returns to action on Saturday, May 13th, when they take on the University of Charleston at 11 AM.
