BECKLEY - The University of Charleston picked up its second do-or-die win in as many days in the Mountain East Conference baseball tournament, defeating Fairmont State 7-3 Saturday night at Epling Stadium.
After dropping its first game of the tournament in an 10-6 loss to Shepherd on Thursday, the Golden Eagles kept their season alive with a 7-0 shutout victory over Concord on Friday.
Facing another elimination game Saturday against the Falcons, UC again delivered, jumping out to an early lead and never trailing.
In improving to 2-1 in the tournament, the Golden Eagles (33-21) advance to the tournament's final day on Sunday. To win the tournament title, UC needs to win three games Sunday.
The Golden Eagles will play West Virginia Wesleyan (23-30) at 10 a.m., and the winner of that game advances to play at 1 p.m. against Shepherd (30-21), which is unbeaten in the tournament. The UC-Wesleyan winner must defeat the Rams twice to win the double-elimination tournament.
Against Fairmont State, UC took a 3-0 lead after scoring three runs in the second inning on a Nick Wilson RBI single and RBIs from Ethan Hunt and Taylor Intmyer.
The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 3-2 with two runs in the third inning but the Golden Eagles scored solo runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to increase their lead to 6-2.
Fairmont State had its best chance at a comeback after scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 6-3 and had the bases loaded with two outs, but Golden Eagle relief pitcher Levi Nash got out of the jam.
UC got another insurance run in the eighth inning on a Stephen Davis solo home run. Wilson was 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs and Gianfranco Morello also had three hits.
Former Poca standout Austin Henrich was the winning pitcher for the Golden Eagles, going 6 2/3 innings to improve to 8-0.
Shepherd advanced to the championship game by picking up a pair of wins on Saturday.
The Rams knocked off West Liberty (29-21) 9-6 in the day's first game, scoring seven runs across the seventh and eighth innings to rally for the win.
Brenton Doyle, Jonathan Sarty and Daniel Heleine each had two hits, two RBIs and a home run for Shepherd in the early win. Sarty added a double.
Nolan Marcus and Chad Matthus each rapped out three hits for the Hilltoppers.
Then, in the third game of the day, Shepherd broke open a close game against West Virginia Wesleyan with two big innings to win 11-5.
With the Rams and Bobcats tied 3-3, Shepherd scored three runs in the sixth inning to take the lead and added five more in the seventh to take full control in remaining unbeaten in the tournament.
Dalton Haymaker, Trenton Burgreen, Ron Farley, and Brandon Kirk all had two hits each for the Rams with Jay Carney and Heleiene driving in two runs each.
In the second game of the day, Wesleyan also rallied in its 12-7 win over Fairmont State, plating seven runs in the fourth inning to erase a 6-1 Falcons lead as the Bobcats stayed alive.
Wyatt Adkins doubled twice and drove in six runs for Wesleyan and Eric Forbrick had a pair of doubles as well. Greg Smith went 3 for 6 for the Bobcats.
Jacob Whitmore had three hits and three RBIs for the Falcons, with Ben Myers, Troy Kifer and Johnny Kesling pounding out a pair of hits each.
Jake Bishop tossed five innings of scoreless relief for Wesleyan, yielding just three hits and a walk while striking out three as the Bobcats mounted their comeback.