Wheeling, W. Va. – After setting the program's single-season win record and earning the MEC North Division title, the Wheeling University Baseball team (36-14, 21-7) travels to GoMart Ballpark for the 2026 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Baseball Tournament Wednesday. They will start the double elimination bracket with a first round match-up against the #3 seed from the MEC South Glenville State, with first pitch at 3:30 PM. The Cardinals are riding momentum into the tournament, having won or split each of the eight weekends of conference play, and they look to continue riding that high in Charleston.
The Cardinals wrapped up the regular season with a trip up Route 88 to take on West Liberty in the final two games of "The Battle for Wheeling" weekend series. After being walked off in game two on Friday, it was the Hilltoppers who came out strong in game one, scoring four runs over the first five innings to take a 4-0 early lead. However, the Cardinals would rally late, scoring two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, before putting up a four-spot in the top of the ninth to claim the 8-6 win. Game two would see that Cardinal momentum continue, with the team jumping out to a 4-0 lead over the first 3.5 innings. Head Coach Ryan Lewicki would end up going to his bench for the final four innings, and West Liberty would score seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings on their way to an 8-5 win. The Cardinals would still take three out of four in the series, wrapping up a 36-win regular season.
Leading the way on the second day was Edward Mateo, who wrapped up a weekend that would see him finish 9-15 (.600) with a home run, a double, a triple, and five RBI. His biggest performance would come in the opener of Sunday's action, when he finished 3-5 with a home run, two RBI, and a run scored. The big hit would come in the top of the seventh when he stepped in following a Griffin Pickhardt home run that made it a one-run game. He would send a solo home run of his own over the outfield wall, tying the game at 4-4 before the Cardinals won the game in the ninth inning. Mateo enters the tournament as the 2026 MEC Hitter of the Year, after leading the conference in batting average (.354), runs scored (67), hits (74), and stolen bases (35).
Leading the Cardinals on the mound will be the 2026 MEC Pitcher of the Year Sebastian Khan, who led history in game one of the series against West Liberty. The Cardinal right-hander would throw 4.1 hitless innings, allowing a walk and striking out four, as the Cardinals threw the first no-hitter in program history. He leads all eligible pitchers with a 2.05 ERA, and is the only one of those eligible pitchers with an ERA under 3.00 for the season. Behind him, the Cardinals will be looking for some consistency, and Jacob Rollyson looks to provide that after a strong final regular season outing. He would take the ball in game two of Sunday's action, throwing 3.0 scoreless innings allowing one hit while walking one and striking out one. He was just two over the minimum for the outing, and looks to keep riding that high into the postseason.
Wheeling's MEC North Division Championship is the first for the program since the 2021 season, and the first-ever MEC Regular season championship in program history. They will be splitting the regular season championship title with Frostburg State, who matched the Cardinal's 21-7 mark, but the Cardinals earned the #1 seed due to defeating the Bobcats three out of four during their weekend series. It is the Cardinal's first appearance in the tournament since the 2024 season, and the Cardinals will be competing for their first MEC Championship in program history. The Cardinals advanced to the semifinal game back in 2023, and will be looking to make their deepest run in program history. The run begins against Glenville State, a team that the Cardinals swept in doubleheader action earlier this season.
The Match-up
The Cardinals and Pioneers are meeting for the 35th time in program history on Wednesday, including the first-ever postseason meeting between the two teams. Wheeling leads the all-time series at 20-14, including a 10-6 record when they face them in their home ballpark. The teams have played two neutral site games all-time, with the Cardinals going 2-0 in those games, and they look to open the postseason match-up with a bang.
The last meeting between the two teams came back on March 29th, in a doubleheader that the Cardinals would win by scores of 4-2 and 8-6. Leading the way in game one was Sebastian Khan, who tossed a complete game, allowing just two unearned runs on four hits while walking one and striking out four. Game two would see a big day from Edward Mateo, who finished 3-4 with a pair of RBI to lead the Cardinals to the 8-6 win.
The Details
First pitch for Wednesday's first round match-up is scheduled for 3:30 PM inside GoMart Ballpark. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
