In a must-win elimination game, Dawson Montesa delivered a strong outing on the mound while the West Virginia Mountaineers’ offense came alive at the perfect moment. WVU exploded for six runs in the sixth inning to blow the game open and secure a 10-5 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The win keeps the Mountaineers’ season alive as they prepare to face Kentucky again on Sunday. Read more: Mountaineers erupt for six runs in sixth inning to stay alive in 10-5 win over Wake Forest.
Early Pitching Duel and First Lead for WVU
Dawson Montesa was on the hill for the Mountaineers in a must-win elimination game against the Demon Deacons. Montesa had a great start to the game, retiring the Demon Deacons in order and recording two strikeouts. The Mountaineers faced pitcher Troy Dressler and were sat down in order in the bottom of the first. Montesa had another successful inning in the top of the second, retiring the first two batters on flyouts.
Montesa gave up a walk to Boston Torres before retiring Andrew Costello on another fly out. Sean Smith led off the bottom of the 2nd for WVU and delivered the Mountaineers’ first hit of the day with a single to left. Matthew Graveline followed with a single of his own to shallow center. Matt Ineich was able to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt, putting runners at second and third with just one out for Brodie Kresser. Kresser struck out on a 3-2 pitch. Smith scored on a wild pitch to Ben Lumsden (Graveline advanced to third) to give WVU a 1-0 advantage. Lumsden was walked on four pitches to put runners at the corners with two outs for Tyrus Hall. Hall drove in two with a ball that was misplayed in center field, giving the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead. Guzman flew out to shallow right to end the inning.
Wake Forest fights back to tie the game
Blake Schaaf opened the top of the third with a double down the line in left. JD Stein advanced Schaaf to third with a sacrifice bunt. Williams grounded out at first but was able to bring Schaaf home to make the score 3-1. After a walk to Costello on a 3-2 pitch, Kade Lewis grounded out to end the inning. The Mountaineers were sat down in order once again in the bottom of the third.
Montesa walked Wentz to start the top of the fourth inning. Conte tied the game with a two-run home run into the Mountaineer bullpen. Following the home run, Montesa sat down the next three batters, striking out two of them to end the inning.
Mountaineers regain lead in fifth
Following a fly out from Graveline to open the bottom of the fourth, Ineich singled to left. Kresser flew out to deep left in the following at-bat. Ineich reached second after a wild pitch to Lumsden. Lumsden then stepped to the plate and drew a walk. Hall struck out on a 3-2 pitch the following at-bat to end the inning.
Stein flew out to center to start the fifth. Williams reached base after being hit by a pitch. Montesa responded by striking out Costello on a 3-2 pitch before retiring Lewis on a groundout to end the top of the fifth.
Following a groundout to Guzman to start the bottom of the fifth, Kelly doubled off a ball that dropped just inside fair territory on shallow right. Following a strike out to Schoenfeld, Smith brought Kelly home with a single to left, reclaiming the lead for the Mountaineers 4-3. A groundout from Graveline ended the inning.
Explosive Sixth Inning Puts Game Out of Reach
WVU sat down the Demon Deacons in order in the top of the sixth.
Ineich led off the bottom of the sixth with a single. Kresser followed with a single that stayed just fair along the third base line, putting runners at first and second. Lumsden fought home Ineich (Kresser to third) with a double to left to extend the WVU lead 5-3.
Wake Forest went to the bullpen, bringing in pitcher Evan Jones. Jones walked Hall to load the bases with no outs for Guzman. Guzman brought home another run for WVU with a single to center, giving the Mountaineers a 6-3 lead.
More Pitching Changes
Kelly stepped to the plate with the bases still loaded and delivered a single of his own to extend the lead 7-3. Wake Forest made another pitching change, this time they turned to Ryan Bosch. Schoenfeld brought home another run for WVU with a sacrifice fly to left, extending the lead 8-3. Guzman scored from second after a wild pickoff attempt went into the outfield, giving WVU a 9-3 lead. Kelly reached third on a wild pitch to Smith.
Smith brought home Kelly on a double to the gap in right-center, making the score 10-3 in favor of WVU. Graveline advanced Smith to third with a fly out to center. Ineich grounded out for the third out, capping off a six-run inning for the Mountaineers.
Late innings: Montesa finishes strong, bullpen closes it out
Costello opened the top of the seventh with a solo home run for Wake Forest, making the score 10-4. Montesa retired the next two batters, adding another strikeout to his total. Following a walk to Williams, Montesa retired Costello on strikes to end the inning.
Following a strike out to Kresser to open the bottom of the seventh, Lumsden drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Lumsden reached second after a pitch in the dirt to Hall. The Mountaineers were unable to add to their lead after a pop out from Hall and a strike out to Guzman ended the inning.
Following a ground out from Lewis to lead off the eighth, Wentz hit a double to right, ending a tremendous day for Montesa. Reese Bassinger entered the game for the Mountaineers. Conte reached base thanks to an error at first base, putting runners at first and third with one out. Wentz scored on a wild pitch to Torres, making the score 10-5. Bassinger answered by retiring the next two batters to end the inning.
Will Ray took the mound for Wake Forest in the bottom of the eighth. Following a strike out to Kelly, Schoenfeld singled to center. Schoenfeld swiped second base a few pitches later. Smith flew out to deep center for the second out of the inning. Graveline was retired on strikes to end the inning.
Bassinger seals the victory
Bassinger shut the door on the Deacons in the ninth, retiring three of the four batters he faced to seal the 10-5 victory for WVU and keep their season alive. The Mountaineers will face the Kentucky Wildcats for the second day in a row. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET.
