Wheeling, W. Va. – After having the first of their two midweek games rescheduled due to rain, the Wheeling University Baseball team (10-24, 2-14) took the diamond at the JB Chambers I-470 Complex on Thursday. It was a prime time matchup between two Ohio Valley schools as the Cardinals welcomed in Bethany. It would come down to the final inning as the Cardinals walked off the Bison in a 5-4 win.
After Bethany had taken the lead on a two-out error in the top of the 9th, Wheeling would enter their final at bats needing a run to tie or two to win. Jacob Lentz would pinch hit to start the inning and lined a leadoff double to right-center field. Connor Wong would come into pinch run and two batters later Brett Johnson what time the game with a one-out double. The Bison would elect to intentionally walk Spencer Craig and a Keaton Ference walk would load the bases spell with only one out. It brought up Christian Boyles who wasted no time swinging at the first pitch and lining it down the left field line. Johnson would come home to score and the Cardinals rushed the field to celebrate the walk-off single. It was the team's first walk off of the season and the first in Boyles's two seasons with the Cardinals.
Early on, it was Wheeling's offense that got things going after starting pitcher Brock Elliott put together a 1-2-3 top of the first. Johnson what double to start the inning and Craig followed with a single that put runners at the corners with nobody out. Ference would roll a slow groundball to second to bring home the first run of the game. After the second out was recorded Nic Ancelet wait come through with a clutch two-out single that brought home Craig and made it a 2-0 Wheeling lead. Elliott allowed his first hit in the top of the second but managed to keep Bethany off the board heading to the bottom of the inning. With one out Cade Lacy drew a walk and was replaced by Jalen Raysor on a Fielder's Choice. Raysor stole second to get into scoring position a s set the Cardinals up for another run.
It turned over the lineup for Johnson, who came through with his second hit of the day. This time it was an RBI single that brought home Raysor and made it a 3-0 Wheeling lead. Johnson got himself into scoring position with a stolen base and a Craig walk put two on with two outs. That was all the Cardinals would get as a groundout ended the inning. Elliott would continue his strong work on the mound but conceded three unearned runs over the fourth and fifth innings and the game was tied at 3-3. Elliott would finish the day throwing 5.0 innings allowing three unearned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five. After allowing the three early runs, Bethany would get a strong relief appearance from Trey Mantle.
While Wheeling's offense was held at bay, the Cardinal bullpen got their own strong pitching with three pictures combining to throw three scoreless innings. Logan Stalbird, Jacob Dukate, and Ethan Wendell would combine to throw 3.0 scoreless innings allowing one hit while walking three and striking out two. Damian Tarin would come on for the ninth and, after retiring the first two batters he faced, he would allow back to back walks to put two runners on and two outs. Matt Sanfilippo would come in relief and got a slow ground ball that resulted in an error and allowed the fourth Bison run to score. However, the offense picked up the defense in the bottom half of the inning leading to the walk-off win.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Brett Johnson who collected a three hit night at the top of the batting order. He would finish 3-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI in the win. Christian Boyles not in the game winner and finished 2-5 with an RBI on the night. Keaton Ference and Nicolas Ancelet would pick up the other two RBI for the Cardinals with Ancelet finishing 1-3 and Ference drawing a pair of walks in the effort. The Cardinals look to use the momentum from a walk-off win heading into a big Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division weekend.
The Wheeling University Baseball returns to action on Friday, April 18th, when they host Fairmont State with first pitch at 1 PM
