INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The red-hot West Virginia State Baseball team was dulled Saturday, suffering the series sweep to Mountain East Conference foe and North Division leader Wheeling, falling 10-3 in the opener and dropping a heartbreaking 5-4 finale at Cal Bailey Field.

The Yellow Jackets drop to 12-6 on the year and 9-3 in league play, while Wheeling reflects the same clips after Saturday's contests.

The brother duo of senior Andrew Stone and junior Michael Stone, and high school classmate and now graduate student Matt Harrison each turned in multi-hit performances. Andrew tripled during the nightcap, and graduate student Antonio Brown doubled in two runs in the opener.

GAME 1: WHEELING 10, WVSU 3

The Cardinals led off the contest with a seven-run first inning and then added two in the third to build a 9-0 advantage that proved insurmountable for WVSU. State did get on the board in the fourth after Brown's deep double to left field brought home Harrison, who led off the frame with a single to left.

Wheeling added a run in the seventh off a double, and the Yellow Jackets threatened after a walk to Michael Stone loaded up the bases with two outs. A Christopher Jordan single back up the middle brought home both pinch runner Ryan Kay (who ran for catcher Andrew Massey, who walked) and outfielder Brendan Quinn, reaching earlier via single.

Reliever Ethan Lauchart turned in six innings of work, striking out eight and surrendering just one walk.

GAME 2: WHEELING 5, WVSU 4

The Cardinals again took the lead in the opening inning, going up 1-0 on a sacrifice fly.  A single and an error in the second gave Wheeling an insurance run, as State cut the lead in half at the bottom of the frame after Stone tripled to lead off the inning and then scoring on a wild pitch.

The Yellow Jackets took the lead with some cushion in the third, plating three runs on three hits. Michael Stone started off the inning with a free pass after being hit-by-pitch, and then advanced to second a bunt single from Jordan.

A single to left center from outfielder Matthew Kline brought Stone home, and then an Andrew Stone single laced down the right field line allowed Jordan to score. Kline scored the final run of the frame on a fielder's choice connection from designated hitter Trey Junkins.

A pair of back-to-back singles for Wheeling to begin the seventh paired with a State miscue evened the contest and presented trouble. An intentional walk and fielder's choice brought in the go-ahead run for the Cardinals, whose closer picked up his third win of the year after State was unable to get anything going in their final at bats.

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets remain at home, beginning South Division MEC play by hosting Concord in a four-game set beginning Saturday, April 10. First pitch is slated for 1 PM. Live stats and video will be available.