BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – Glenville State Pioneer Baseball made a short trip to Upshur County earlier today for their first go-around with the West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats in an important divisional series. With the regular season reaching its conclusion in less than a week, teams on the brink are starting to feel the heat, with tight races coming down to the wire for the elusive 3rd and final spot in the MEC Tournament. GSU took two big steps in that direction with a Sunday sweep of the Bobcats, winning by margins of 2-0 and 8-1. The victories now find the Pioneers at (12-12) in conference and (23-19) overall, within one game of both taking the 2nd seed in the South Division and missing the conference tournament all together. With six games left to play, two against WVWC Monday (Apr. 28) and pair of doubleheaders against current 3rd place Concord this coming weekend, the pressure is beginning to rise for all teams on the bubble. As the Pioneers ride into their finales on an eight-game win streak, action seems imminent as GSU pushes to punch their ticket to Charleston.
Game One – GSU 2 I West Virginia Wesleyan 0
Defense was the name of the game in the first scrap earlier this afternoon. Led by stately complete game outings from both pitchers, the squads combined for only eight hits and 10 baserunners through the entire game. Offense would be at a premium all day, with the scoring being stifled until the top of the 4th inning, broken by an error from the Bobcat infield that scored Luke Sweigart. The lucky party of the error, Zach Laurie, was brought all the way around not long after via a triple from Adam Bright, constituting the rest of the scoring for the outing. With the Bobcats unable to override the gem on the mound from Grant Landis, the Pioneers held the slight advantage and picked up a massive late season win, 2-0.
Final Stats
West Virginia Wesleyan
The home squad only managed to put four runners on base in game one, with four hits all by different players. Luke Burner had the most notable of these, reaching 3rd base on a triple, though he was unable to be brought home. Jack Tilton, Grant Shumaker and Thatcher Poteat rounded out the rest of the Bobcats with hits. Hunter Eplin put down a great effort on the mound, striking out eight through a complete game of work.
Glenville State
Just like the opposition, the Pioneers only had four hits on the game, two of which belonged to Sweigart, also scoring the first run. Laurie and Bright rounded out the rest of the squad to reach base, with both picking up an RBI in the process and Bright holding the only extra base hit. The star of the show was Grant Landis, going the distance and striking out seven in his 2nd complete game of the year.
Game Two – GSU 8 I West Virginia Wesleyan 1
The results of the second square off were quite different from game one, with the Pioneers more than tripling their hits with 15 in game two. Similar to the first go-around, things remained scoreless until the top of the 3rd inning, with the 0s broken by an Austin Carter single that scored Colby Guy. Guy would pay this good will forward in the top of the 4th and score Zac Bayor with a single himself. Laurie took the responsibility of finally kicking the door down in the 5th inning with a two-run bomb, his 9th of 2025. Guy would add another in the 5th with his 2nd single to bring in one more and increase the margin to 5-0. The top of the 7th was nothing but lead insulation, with three more added to make it 8-0 heading into the final frame. Though the Bobcats only tallied one, the Pioneer defense continued to shine on Sunday and put any hopes of a rally to rest, taking game two, 8-1.
Final Stats
West Virginia Wesleyan
The Bobcats only managed to put eight runners on base in Game two, five through hits and three from walks. Burner had the lone RBI of the excursion, as well as the team's only extra base hit. Poteat, Matthew Neach and Josh Ayala made up the rest of the players to reach base. Alex Hernandez would be the arm to receive the loss, his 7th of the year, striking out three in 4.2 innings pitched.
Glenville State
Guy had one of his most efficient goes of the season in game two with four hits and two RBIs. Bayor was not far behind with three hits and one RBI, while Zach Laurie knocked one out and picked up two RBIs in the process. Minson, Carter, and Meadows made up the rest of the Pioneers with RBI, Minson having multiple hits on the day himself. Cole Grady would pick up the win on the mound, striking out three in five innings of work.
Up Next For The Pioneers
GSU will have two more dances with the Bobcats Monday afternoon, again trekking to Buckhannon for the battles. The first pitch of Game one is slated for 1 p.m.
