BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan baseball team swept the first two games of a four-game series with rival Davis & Elkins on Friday. The Bobcats used a comeback in the first game, scoring six unanswered runs to win 6-5 and dominating the second game, 6-1. The offense was alive all day, recording 21 hits between the two games.
game 1
The Senators opened the scoring with an RBI single up the middle after the Bobcat defense made an error to allow the running back to come up. D&E added to their run total just two batters later when a single to the stomach scored two to make it 3–0. Another error in the top of the second gave D&E a chance to score more runs, putting runners on first and third. Broderick Rohrbaugh came out of there, hit a line drive right at him and threw it to first.
Wesleyan used a walk and an error to put a runner in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the second, but back-to-back fly balls stopped the scoring opportunity. In the top of the 3rd, Davis & Elkins had two straight singles that turned in another run on a throw to third that got away. The Senators extended their lead once more in the top of the 4th, making it 5-0. WVWC took the lead in the bottom half of the 4th, loading the bases with no outs and putting up back-to-back runs on Ian Donohoe’s sacrifice fly and Logan Roop’s single to right. A double play ended the inning for the ‘Cats.
In the bottom of the sixth, a wild pitch and RBI single by Luke Burner cut the lead to just 5–4 for the Senators. With Rohrbaugh holding D&E scoreless in the top of the 7th, the Bobcats were left with their final three outs in the bottom of the 7th and trailing by one. It didn’t take long for Devin Johnson to tie the game, firing a solo shot to left-center field. The Bobcats had a chance to walk out when Thatcher Poteat reached third with one out, but were left stranded.
Austin Mann pitched the eighth inning, keeping the game 5-5. Luke Burner led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and advanced to second on Sam Ingram’s weak groundout. Jack Tilton sacked him, hitting a liner into the space between left-center field to give the Bobcats a 6–5 win.
Aydin Zimmerman, Cole Hitch, and Wesley Athey finished the game with two hits with Athey also adding 2 RBIs to his performance. Matthew Colon took the loss after coming on in relief, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits and a walk.
Five different Bobcats had an RBI, while Jack Tilton, Devin Johnson, and Cole Shearer all had two hits. Luke Burner’s three hits led the offense. Broderick Rohrbaugh pitched seven innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and one walk. Austin Mann picked up the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
game 2
After making no offense to start the first and a half innings, Bobcat hitters drove in two runs on Dharyl Moon’s RBI double and an infield groundout that drove in Cole Shearer. The Senators responded with a run in the top of the third, taking advantage of a Bobcats error to extend the inning and single up the middle.
Sam Ingram singled and stole a couple of bases to get into scoring position, scoring on Cole Shearer’s single up the left side. On the same play, Devin Johnson scored on a missed throw over the third baseman’s head. Matthew Neach then drove Shearer home with a single to right field, making it 5–1 after three innings. Jack Tilton extended the Wesleyan lead in the bottom of the 4th, hitting Luke Burner after he was on HBP.
Hunter Eplin continued his dominance for the remainder of the game, putting the Senators’ lineup in order in both the sixth and seventh innings, clinching the doubleheader sweep for the Bobcats.
D&E had just two hits from Eplin and Gavin Hartman also had the only RBI with a hit. Jake Spearen took the loss, going four innings and allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks.
Sam Ingram, Jack Tilton and Matthew Neach each had two hits and Cole Shearer led the team with 2 RBIs. Four other Bobcats finished with an RBI. Hunter Eplin pitched a gem, allowing one run (unearned) on just two hits and striking out eight.
Up next for the Bobcats
Wesleyan ends the season at Davis & Elkins on Sunday with games beginning at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
