WVU (33-12, 17-8 Big 12) pulled one game closer to Kansas by defeating them, 4-1, in Lawrence, Kansas. Maxx Yehl tossed a complete game against the No. 7 Jayhawks. The No. 15 Mountaineers moved to 17-8 in the Big 12, as they sit in second place behind the Jayhawks, who are now 20-5. The complete game by Yehl is impressive, but it is also vital for the final two games of the series. Head coach Steve Sabins has his entire bullpen available for the rest of the weekend, on the road against the Jayhawks. Read more: Maxx Yehl’s complete game propels WVU to win on the road in Kansas.
Yehl receives early run support
The first two innings were quiet in Kansas between two top-15 teams. Dominic Voegele struck out WVU’s first three batters, and Yehl recorded one strikeout in the bottom of the inning. Both pitchers got into a little trouble in the second inning, but zero runs were scored in the inning. Voegele allowed a couple of two-out baserunners, but got the third out without any damage. Yehl allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning, but got a double play to end the trouble.
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Gavin Kelly got the Mountaineers on the board first with a home run in the top of the third inning. He hit a 394-foot home run off the light pole in center field, his 11th home run of the season. Yehl continued to dominate in the bottom of the inning.
WVU did not stop in the top of the fourth. Sean Smith started the inning with a triple, and Guzman drove him in with an infield single. Brodie Kresser and Guzman executed a double steal to perfection later in the inning. Kresser stole second, and the throw was a touch high, which allowed the speedy Guzman to score from third with ease.
The fifth inning was quiet as both starters continued on the bump. Voegele struck out two batters in the top of the inning. Yehl struck out two batters in the bottom of the inning and escaped the inning.
WVU closes out the game with ease
Voegele had some struggles with two outs in the top of the sixth. He allowed runners to reach second and third due to a wild pitch, which prompted a mound visit. He struck out Brock Wills for the final out of the inning, which was his last batter faced in the game.
Yehl allowed a double to start the bottom of the sixth and was visited at the mound. He walked the next batter, which prompted another mound visit. Yehl allowed a sacrifice fly, which allowed the Jayhawks to score the first run of their first run of the game. He got the final out on a ground ball to shortstop.
Riane Ritter came out for Kansas in the seventh inning and immediately allowed a home run to Tyrus Hall. That was the only run he allowed in the inning, but it gave WVU a 4-1 lead in the middle of the seventh inning. Yehl came back out in the bottom of the inning, despite two mound visits in the sixth. He allowed one single, but finished the inning without any real trouble.
Toby Scheidt replaced Ritter in the eighth inning and allowed two baserunners. He did not allow a run, though. Yehl finished the eighth inning with a 1-2-3 inning to move them to the final inning.
Boede Rahe pitched in the ninth inning and finished without any trouble. Yehl issued a one-out walk, but got the final two outs for a complete game, as WVU won 4-1.
Top performers
- M. Yehl (WVU): 9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K (W, 7-1)
- G. Kelly (WVU): 2-for-5, RBI, R, HR, 2 BB
- T. Hall (WVU): 1-for-4, RBI, R, HR
What’s next?
The Mountaineers return to action in Lawrence, Kansas, for the final two games of the series. They play on Saturday, May 9, at 3 p.m. ET at Hoglund Ballpark, and the series finale is on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.
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