GLENVILLE, W.Va. – The Glenville State Baseball team picked up a doubleheader split at West Liberty on Saturday (Mar. 28) before dropping a pair at Wheeling on Sunday (Mar. 29), finishing the weekend (1-3) in MEC play. The Pioneers showed resilience throughout the weekend, battling in every game and nearly completing multiple late comebacks.
Saturday (Mar. 28)
Game One – GSU 1 | West Liberty 5
West Liberty capitalized on early Pioneer miscues to take control in game one, scoring three unearned runs in the opening inning to build a lead they would not relinquish. After Glenville State threatened in the first with a runner in scoring position, the Hilltoppers responded by taking advantage of multiple defensive errors to jump ahead 3-0. Despite strong pitching from
Grant Landis, who allowed just two earned runs over five innings, the early deficit proved costly.
The Pioneers got on the board in the third inning when
Jetsel Cajigas-Martinez came around to score on a balk after reaching base and advancing into scoring position. Glenville State was limited to just three hits in the contest and was unable to generate further offense. West Liberty added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings to secure the 5-1 victory.
Game Two – GSU 4 | West Liberty 3
Glenville State bounced back in game two behind a clutch swing from
Ashton Crace and a strong outing from the pitching staff to earn a 4-3 win. The Pioneers struck first in the third inning when
Jetsel Cajigas-Martinez delivered an RBI double, giving Glenville State a 1-0 lead. The game remained tight until the fifth inning when Crace broke it open with a three-run home run, scoring Cajigas-Martinez and
Jacob Meadows to extend the lead to 4-0. West Liberty began to chip away late, highlighted by a solo home run from Hunter White in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh to make it a one-run game. However, Glenville State's pitching staff held firm down the stretch to secure the win and the doubleheader split.
Sunday (Mar. 29)
Game One – GSU 2 | Wheeling 4
The Pioneers struck early but could not keep pace with Wheeling's power in game one, falling 4-2. Glenville State opened the scoring in the first inning when
Ashton Crace reached on an error and drove in
Jetsel Cajigas-Martinez. However, Wheeling responded immediately with a two-run home run from Gavin Millians to take a 2-1 lead. The Cardinals extended their advantage with solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings from Luke Meyer and Nicholas Schulz. Glenville State added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from
Austin Carter but was limited to just four hits in the contest and could not find a late breakthrough.
Game Two – GSU 6 | Wheeling 8
Glenville State showed fight in the series finale, mounting a late comeback attempt before falling 8-6. After a scoreless first inning, Wheeling broke the game open with a five-run second inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Brett Johnson and multiple RBI hits to take a commanding early lead. The Pioneers answered in the third inning as
Jetsel Cajigas-Martinez sparked the rally with a double before
Ashton Crace delivered an RBI single.
David Arroyo followed with a run-scoring fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 5-2. Wheeling continued to add on with runs in the fourth and fifth innings, extending the lead to 8-2.
Glenville State chipped away in the sixth inning, scoring on a balk and adding a sacrifice fly from
Greyson McNeill. The comeback effort continued in the seventh when
Austin Carter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and
Zach Laurie followed with an RBI single to bring the Pioneers within two. The Pioneers finished with 10 hits in the contest, but Wheeling was able to hold off the late surge to secure the win.
Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers start MEC South play against Charleston on Friday (Apr. 3) and Saturday (Apr. 4) in a four-game set with the Golden Eagles. First pitch on both days is set for 1 p.m. at the Sue Morris Sports Complex.
