Wheeling, W. Va. – It's the final weekend of the baseball regular season and the Wheeling University Baseball team (23-22 11-13) opens rivalry weekend. They play the first half of "The Battle for Wheeling" home and home four game series with West Liberty on Friday, with first pitch at 4:30 PM. While the Cardinals are already locked in to a Mountain East Conference (MEC) tournament spot, it is a big weekend as the Cardinals battle for the #2 seed.

Last time out, the Cardinals hosted Salem in their final non-conference series of the season, splitting the final day of action. In the first game of the series, both pitchers were firing on all cylinders, as neither team got over the four run mark. Salem jumped out to an early lead with a first inning run, but the Cardinals pitching staff held them to just one run the rest of the day. Meanwhile, the Cardinals got some early offense of their own, scoring four runs between the second and third inning. That stretch was enough to give them the lead for good as they picked up a 4-3 win. In the second game, Salem built a larger lead, going ahead 10-3 heading into the final inning. However, the Cardinals wouldn't go down without a fight, putting up eight runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a grand slam, but it would fall just short as the Cardinals fell 12-11.

In their two wins during the weekend, it was the starting pitching that led the way for the team. On the second day of the doubleheader, it was Nicholas Martinez that led the way for the Cardinals. After allowing the run in the top of the first, he was able to settle down, throwing up three straight zeros before being scored on again. He would end his day after 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out six. The effort moved his ERA to a team-best 3.74 on the season over 45.2 innings of work. It has been the start of a strong stretch for the left-hander, who has lasted 5.0 or more innings in each of his last four starts, allowing two earned runs or less in three of those four starts. During that stretch, he has posted a 3.27 ERA, and he looks to continue that success into the tournament.

The big hit during the Cardinal's comeback run came from Tyler Livingston, who stepped up with two outs and the bases loaded. He would hit his second collegiate home run over the center field wall and made it a one-run game for the Cardinals. Livingston has provided a big bat off the bench for the Cardinals, hitting .258 across 31 at-bats with two home runs and 11 RBI. His grand slam on Sunday was one of his biggest hits of the season and he looks to continue to come through in the clutch for his team down the stretch. The Cardinals also got a spark in that second day against Salem from Christian Boyles, who finished 5-6 across the two games. He would score two runs across the two games on day two and four total runs in the series as he raised his average to .258.

As they enter the final weekend of play, there is still a lot on the line for the Cardinals as they head into their series with West Liberty. The Cardinals currently sit as the #3 seed in the MEC North Division, but have the chance to get as high as the #2 seed. To get the #2 seed, the Cardinals need to sweep West Liberty in their four-game series and have Fairmont State get swept as well at the hands of Frostburg State. If either Wheeling loses one of their four games or Fairmont State wins one of their four games, the Cardinals are locked into the #3 seed. The difference between the two and three seed is an extra day's rest, with the #3 seed playing their first tournament game on Wednesday, May 8th, while the #2 seed doesn't have to play until Thursday, May 9th, the Cardinals are looking to get the extra day of rest as they compete for an MEC Championship.

The Matchup

The Cardinals and Hilltoppers have a historic rivalry, with the teams meeting for the 60th and 61st time in program history on Friday. Wheeling leads the all-time series, with a record of 30-29, and are on a bit of a roll having won each of the last five meetings between the two teams. However, when the teams meet at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex, West Liberty has had the advantage, going 12-13 in 25 career meetings. Their last meeting came in an elimination game for the Cardinals at last year, MEC Tournament, where Wheeling picked up their first-ever MEC Tournament win.

The Cardinals would end up avoiding elimination with a 5-3 win and advanced to the MEC Tournament semifinal round. Leading the way for the Cardinals was Braden Killens, who finished 2-4 with a pair of runs scored, a home run, and two RBI. Nic Ancelet only had one hit on the day, but it was one of the biggest of the afternoon as he sent a three-run go ahead home run over the left-centerfield wall to give the Cardinals the win.

The Details

First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 4:30 PM at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex, with senior day ceremonies beginning at 4 PM. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.