Washington, W.Va. – The Wheeling University Baseball team faced tough weather and tougher competition as they played against Salem University at EQT Park. The Cardinals, struggling this season with a record of 8-19 and 2-10 in their conference, dropped both games of their weekend series opener against the Tigers.
Game One: Salem 10, Wheeling 0
In the first game, pitcher Wes Landis took the mound for Wheeling. He allowed a run in the first inning but settled in afterwards, keeping the game close until the fourth inning. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning but failed to score. Salem then pulled ahead, scoring three in the fourth and one in the fifth, taking a commanding 5-0 lead.
Landis ended the day with five innings pitched, giving up five runs on five hits. The Tigers continued their scoring spree with three runs in the sixth to stretch the lead to 8-0. Logan Stalbird came in as relief but faced difficulties, allowing three more runs. Despite a late rally in the seventh where Wheeling loaded the bases again, they couldn’t score. Nicholas Schulz stood out with two hits and a walk, leading the Cardinals’ effort.
Game Two: Salem 6, Wheeling 4
In the second game, Wheeling turned to Tomoki Jitsukawa. Unfortunately, Salem jumped ahead once more, scoring four runs in the first two innings. The Cardinals struggled until the fifth, where a rally began. Josh Rush and Brett Johnson reached base, followed by Keaton Ference, who hit a double, reducing Salem’s lead to 4-2. A wild pitch then brought in another run, making it 4-3.
However, Salem responded and added two runs in the sixth, extending their lead to 6-3. Ethan Wendell came in for relief, striking out all three batters he faced in the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Wheeling mounted one final push. After Ference singled, Dellerman hit an RBI single, making the score 6-4. With the bases loaded, Wheeling’s hopes rested on Nicholas Schulz. Unfortunately, the Tigers brought in relief pitcher Richie Preston, who closed out the game.
Keaton Ference shone brightly in the second game, collecting two RBIs and scoring twice. Josh Rush also had a solid performance, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Wheeling now looks ahead to their next games, hoping to regroup.
Interestingly, the Cardinals’ challenges reflect a broader trend in college baseball this season. Many teams have faced tough starts due to unpredictable weather patterns impacting practice and game schedules. For instance, according to a recent NCAA report, more teams are seeing an increase in postponed games this season compared to previous years. This change can disrupt team momentum and cohesion.
As Wheeling prepares to face Salem again, they will look to capitalize on any momentum gained from their near comeback in the second game. This weekend’s games could be pivotal for the Cardinals as they strive to improve their conference standing.
Wheeling University Baseball will play their next game against Salem on Sunday, April 6th, at 1 PM. With their spirits high, they aim to break their losing streak and gain confidence moving forward.
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