Friday, April 06, 2012
by Robert Audia

PHILIPPI, W.Va.—The Alderson-Broaddus Battlers got strong outings from both of their starting pitchers and picked up a pair of wins over Wheeling Jesuit University, 6-0 and 9-3, in a WVIAC doubleheader Friday afternoon at Jack Funk Field.

In game one, Senior Kyle Oney (3-4) was dominant on the mound, throwing a four-hit, complete game shutout and striking out six batters to extend his streak of innings without allowing a run to 14.

The Battlers (13-18, 9-6 WVIAC) took advantage of several Cardinals miscues in the bottom of the 1^st to take the early lead. Sean Collette continue his recent hot hitting by leading off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a passed ball, and, after a David Bryan walk, came home to score on a Mitch Roy sacrifice fly. An error and two walks later, Jeff Conley hit a 2-RBI single to score Bryan and Bobby McLaughlin to extend the lead to 3-0. Kirby Clemens brought home another run, and Jeff Conley later scored when Daniel Essian reached on an error.

The Cardinals (12-17, 6-11) threatened in the top of the third, leading off the inning with back-to-back singles, but Oney got out of the inning with a lineout and a pair of strikeouts.

Conley brought home his third run of the game on an RBI-double in the bottom of the fifth, driving home Mike Hackett and closing out the scoring for the game.

Conley and Collette each had a pair of hits to lead the Battlers’ offense.

In the second game, the Battlers found themselves in an early hole, as the Cardinals strung together three consecutive singles to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1^st. However, A-B answered in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of a pair of WJU errors to score three runs and move the score to 3-1.

The Battlers (14-18, 10-6) would never relinquish that lead as the offense came alive, scattering six additional runs and 11 hits over the next five innings to provide starting pitcher Paul Gonzales some breathing room.

Gonzales earned the win on the mound, scattering seven hits and three runs over six innings of action while striking out seven. Bobby Williams pitched the final inning in relief for the Battlers, throwing a strikeout as he retired the side in order

McLaughlin led the Battlers offense in the second game, going 3-3 with an RBI, while Collette, Bryan, Hackett, and Conley each added a pair of hits.

Jordan Kraus took the loss on the mound for WJU, allowing nine hits and seven runs (four earned) in four innings of action. Andy Nemecek led the Cardinals’ offensive attack with three hits.

The Battlers will close the series with Wheeling Jesuit tomorrow, facing the Cardinals in a 9-inning contest that will begin at 1:00 PM.