Bethany, W. Va. – While the temperature was very similar to what they faced this past weekend, the Cardinals were back north on Wednesday as they played their pre-home opener against Clarion. They would pick up a 9-4 win over the Golden Eagles, completing their sweep of the weekend from their postponed game on Saturday. The win moved the Cardinals to 9-3 on the season, marking their best start to a season in program history as they enter Mountain East Conference (MEC) play this weekend.
It was a bullpen day on the mound, as the Cardinals threw seven different arms, and the offense got them plenty of runs of support on the day. It started in in jnf number one as
Aidan Willard got things started with a single. A groundout would move the runner to scoring position and an error would move runners to first and third with one out. Runners remained at the corners with two outs for
Spencer Craig, who came through with a two-out single and brought home Willard to make it a 1-0 game. After another scoreless inning from Martinez, the Cardinals were back in action in the top of the second as
Thomas Kegerreis and
Bode Stewart hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. A fielder's choice would retire the lead runner at third before Willard added a single to load the bases with one out.
Christian Boyles would reach on a fielder's choice, allowing the second run of the game to score as the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead. Martinez would exit after 2.0 solid innings, where he allowed just two hits while walking two and striking out three. He gave way to reliever
Hunter Dyck, and Clarion would add a run to cut into the Wheeling lead, making it a 2-1 game. The Cardinals would get that run back in the bottom of the third as
Spencer Craig lifted his second home run of the season over the left field wall to make it a 3-1 affair. Reliever
Noah Zenkewich and Jagger Iove Elli would be up next and both delivered scoreless outings from the bullpen. Zenkewich would throw 1.2 innings of work and struck out two batters as he picked up his first collegiate win on the day. Iovenelli added 1.1 scoreless innings of his own, and got out of a big jam allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out two.
It would be in the bottom of the sixth when the Cardinals got back on the board as Nic Ancelet was hit by a pitch. Willard would pick up his third hit of the day to put runners at first and second for Boyles. Boyles would try to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher air mailed a throw to third base and Ancelet would score to make it a 4-1 game. Killens would then step in with two on and nobody out and came through with one of the biggest hits of the night. He sent the ball back up the middle and two runs came across as the Cardinals took a 6-1 lead. Kaleb Skull would single to get on base and a double play would leave the Cardinals with a runner on second and two outs.
Scott Kondroik would bring home the final run of the inning with an RBI single that brought home Skull and made it a 7-1 game.
Clarion would add another run in the top of the seventh and made it a 7-2 game. After one out, Willard would pick up his fourth hit of the day as he reaches with one out. Boyles would follow and sent one to the left field wall as he tripled home Willard and made it an 8-2 affair. The next batter was Killens, who singled to center and brought home Boyles to make it a 9-2 affair. Clarion would add two more runs before things were said and done as
Sebastian Khan came in to close things down in the ninth. He would come through, allowing one hit, while striking out one as the Cardinals picked up a 9-4 win. The win got the team out to their best start in program history as they head into MEC play this weekend.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was
Aidan Willard, who finished 4-5 with four singles and three runs scored on the day. The Cardinals leading run producer was
Braden Killens, who finished 2-5 with three RBI, while
Spencer Craig added a 2-4 day with a home run and two RBI.
Christian Boyles would be the final Cardinal to drive in multiple runs on the day, finishing 1-5 with a triple and two RBI to round things out.
The Wheeling University Baseball team returns to action on Saturday, March 16th, when they host Charleston in doubleheader action with first pitch at 1 PM.
