Wheeling, W. Va. - During the first weekend of the season back on February 18th, rain forced a shortened opening series for the Wheeling University Baseball team (18-12, 8-8). On Wednesday, they will play the finale of that three-game opening weekend series when they travel to Wild Things Park to take on CAL-U with first pitch at noon. The Cardinals look to build off their strong pitching performances and ultimately salvage a win with the Vulcans in the season series finale.
Last time out, the Cardinals wrapped up their weekend in Avon, Ohio with the final two games of their four-game series against Notre Dame College. Both games were driven by strong defense and pitching and things started out with a classic pitchers duel. Notre Dame College got a run in the bottom of the second inning, and that would be the only standing run until the top of the fifth. Wheeling put up a three-spot on the Falcons during that fifth inning and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Despite two runs coming across for the Falcons in the bottom of the seventh, the insurance run proved key as Wheeling went on to win 4-3. In the second game of the day, pitching was even stronger, with the teams combining to score just three runs. Wheeling pushed the first run across in the top of the first, but that would be all as they dropped the second game 2-1 to earn the split.
Starting pitching led the way throughout the weekend, and Nicholas Martinez and Cody McCarley each did their part in Sunday's games. Martinez made the game one start, lasting 6.0 innings allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out three batters on the day. It ended up being Martinez's best start of the season, and continued his streak of allowing three earned runs or less in all nine of his appearances this season. Kody McCarley would get the ball in game two, and turned in a similarly strong outing, giving up two runs on four hits over 6.0 innings while walking a batter and striking out four. McCarley also had a bounce back outing for the Cardinals, and now has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his seven starts this season.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Cardinals saw a big series from Nic Ancelet, who jumped up to third on the team with a .341 batting average. Across the four games, Ancelet would go 6-12 (.500) with three runs scored and five RBI. In the Cardinal's 4-3 win on Sunday against Notre Dame College, he finished 3-4 with an RBI and came up with one of the biggest at-bats of the night. He stepped in in the top of the seventh inning with one out and lined an RBI single to left to bring home Aidan Willard. It was that hit that ended up being the difference maker as the Cardinals withstood a two-run bottom of the seventh from the Falcons to pick up the win.
As they continue through their non-conference slate, the Cardinals look to continue to improve their standing in the Atlantic Regional landscape. They have sat just outside the Top 10 in the region, receiving votes in four different polls this season, including the most recent poll by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Along with their goal of making it back to the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament this season, Head Coach Ryan Lewicki is also looking for his team to make a push for the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Tournament for the first time in program history. The Cardinals are 15-12 in in-region play this season and look to get one step closer to earning a regional ranking in the coming weeks.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Vulcans are meeting for the 30th time in program history on Wednesday, with CAL-U leading the all-time series with a record of 26-3. All three wins in the all-time series for the Cardinals came on the road, where the Cardinals are 3-18 in 21 previous meetings. The Cardinals have averaged three runs per game in the all-time series and have scored four or more runs in three of their last four meetings.
In their most recent meeting, the Cardinals took on CAL-U at Wild Things Park and ended up falling to the Vulcans 18-2. It was a bullpen day for the Cardinals, and Dominic Parker-McDonald led the way, going 3.0 shutout innings allowing two hits in relief. The offense was led by Scott Kondroik, who finished 2-3 with an RBI, while Aidan Willard added a 1-4 day with an RBI of his own in the loss.
The Details
First pitch for Wednesday afternoon's game is scheduled for noon inside Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania. You can follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
