Charleston High School baseball team remains undefeated after an 11-2 win over the Salem Wildcats on Wednesday.  

Despite the combined 13 runs scored, the game was scoreless going into the fourth inning. 

“We started out the day a little slow,” Charleston head coach Jim Miller said.  

The opening frames were marked by Trojans’ senior pitcher Alex Matheny, who pitched three scoreless innings and recorded five strikeouts.  

At the top of the inning, two singles put sophomore Luke Boldt then senior Brody Collier on base.  

Junior outfielder Brenden Smith hit a single to send the baserunners home to put the Wildcats up 2-0. 

Matheny logged one out before being replaced by junior Wyatt Gordon, who with runners in scoring position, got out of the inning. 

In the bottom of the inning, junior Tyler Helton and junior Russ Applegate recorded two singles to put themselves on base.  

Gordon hit a double into left field to drive in both baserunners to tie the game.  

“Ty [Helton] and Russ [Applegate] both got on base in front of me, and it led to a little bit of a momentum shift and let me get that big hit for us,” Gordon said.  

Matheny hit a single to follow that sent Gordon home and gave the lead to Charleston (3-0).  

Six more runs would be scored by Charleston to cap off an eight run inning. 

After the trojans loaded the bases, a walk forced home another run 

Helton, in his second at bat of the inning, hit a two RBI single to make it 6-2.  

Applegate followed by hitting a fly ball to the Salem (0-6) centerfielder Salgado. He didn’t make the catch, which scored two more runs for the Trojans and put them up by eight.  

“We put up some runs in a hurry,” Miller said. 

There was then not a run scored by either team until the bottom of the sixth.  

After a walk put Helton on base, Applegate hit a triple to drive in the Trojan’s ninth run of the game.  

Gordon’s RBI single scored Applegate and make the score 10-2.  

The Trojans have scored double digit runs in all three of their games this season.  

This marks the first three-game win streak for the Trojans since late in the 2023 season.  

Gordon finished the game with 3 and one-third innings pitched, all of which were scoreless, with five strikeouts and only three hits in the winning effort. 

“I think I settled down well to help my team get the win,” Gordon said. 

Gordon said his mindset to not allow more Salem runs is due to his coach.  

“He always teaches us the next pitch mentality and not focusing on anything in the past,” Gordon said.  

Charleston is looking ahead at two road games against Newton on Friday and Champaign Centennial on Saturday. 

First pitch for Friday’s game at Newton is set for 4:30. 

Jason Coulombe can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].