MORGANTOWN W.VA. — Chansen Cole delivered a strong start on the mound, setting the tone for the West Virginia Mountaineers as they opened play in the Morgantown Regional. Cole retired the first two batters he faced before allowing a single, then punched out Tommy Popoff to escape the first inning unscathed against the Binghamton Bearcats. The Mountaineers responded with timely hitting and relentless pressure at the plate, erupting for a dominant 10-1 victory highlighted by multiple home runs and a relentless offensive showing in front of their home crowd. Read more: Mountaineers explode offensively in 10-1 rout of Binghamton in Morgantown Regional.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated following the postgame press conference.
WVU Baseball Head Coach Steve Sabins said atmosphere was a factor in Friday’s victory, among other things.
We had quality at bats, and then some players elevated their game,” Sabins said. “I think good players, in those moments, elevate their game, and you traditionally like those moments, they play better with big crowds.”
Cole handles Binghamton in the first
Chansen Cole took the mound for the Mountaineers in their first matchup in the Morgantown Regional. Cole started the game by retiring the first two batters he faced. Cole gave up a single to Matt Bolton but got out of the inning without any damage after striking out Tommy Popoff.
The Mountaineers faced pitcher Conner Griffin in the bottom of the first. After Matt Ineich and Gavin Kelly were both retired to open the inning, Paul Schoenfeld got the first hit for the Mountaineers, Schoenfeld later stole second base during the following at-bat. Sean Smith was retired on strikes to end the inning scoreless for the Mountaineers.
Bearcats grab early lead
Zack Kent opened the top of the second with a double down the left field line. A wild pitch to Steven Kraus allowed Kent to move to third with no outs. Cole retired Kraus on strikes for the first out of the inning. Zach Anderson hit to the third to score Kent, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.
Cole struck out Mike Stellrech to end the inning (1-0 Bing).
The Mountaineers were retired in order in the bottom of the second. Cole answered by retiring the Bearcats in order in the top of the third.
Ben Lumsden walked on five pitches to open the bottom of the third. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, Tyrus Hall struck out in the following at-bat and Lumsden was picked off at first base for the first two outs of the inning. Ineich walked to give WVU a base runner with two outs. Kelly walked on a 3-2 to give West Virginia runners at first and second with two outs. Schoenfield flew out to deep right to end the inning info with no runs for the Mountaineers
Cole once again retired the Bearcats in order, in the top of the fourth, adding another strike out to his total
Mountaineers explode in the fourth
Smith led off the bottom of the fourth for WVU and reached first base after being hit by a pitch. Graveline followed by rocking the home crowd with a two-run home run to right to give WVU a 2-1 lead. Guzman followed with a double to the wall in center, dropped by the centerfielder Bolton. Guzman stole third during the at-bat to Kresser. Kresser walked on 5 pitches to put runners at the corners for the Mountaineers with no outs.
After the Kresser walk, Binghamton went to the bullpen, bringing Jackson Mitchell into the game. Kresser stole second base during the Lumsden at-bat. Lumsden welcomed Mitchell to the game with a 3-run home run to right field, extending the WVU lead 5-1. After a Hall ground out, Ineich reached base on a walk to give WVU another base runner. Kelly flew out to center for the second out of the inning. Schoenfeld grounded out to first, ending an incredible inning for the Mountaineers.
A bobbled ball by Guzman allowed Kraus reached first base to open the top of the fifth. Cole recorded another strikeout, this time retiring Zach Anderson. Following a single from Stellrecht, Cole struck out Hennig for the second out of the inning. Gonzalez reached base after a bobbled ball by the Ineich to load the bases. Cole struck out Sweeney to end the inning and keep the WVU lead at 4.
Sean Smith grounded out to open the bottom of the fifth. Graveline struck out. Guzman followed with a walk on a 3-2. Kresser went down on strikes in the following at-bat to end the inning.
Cole once again retired the Bearcats in order in the top of the sixth.
Another big inning: WVU pushes lead to 10-1
Jake Dally took the mound for Binghamton to start the bottom of the sixth. Lumsden singled to center to open the inning for WVU. Lumsden reached 2nd base on a wild pitch to hall. Hall blasted one off the right field wall for a double to put runners at second and third with no outs. Ineich grounded out in the next at bat and was unable to advance either runner. Kelly stepped to the plate and doubled to the gap in left to score two, extending the Mountaineers lead 7-1.
Schoenfeld grounded out but was able to advance Kelly to third with two outs. Smith reached base after getting hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners with two outs. The very next at-bat, Graveline was hit by the very first pitch he saw, drawing a groan from the Mountaineer faithful. Guzman with the bases loaded, blooper a ball to left to score two three to extend the lead 10-1. Kresser grounded out to end another tremendous inning from the Mountaineers who received a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Guzman, coming off an electric day on the diamond, said it felt right to be the “good guys” Friday.
“I feel like we’re always the bad guys a lot of the time,” Guzman said. “So, it feels kind of good… [to be] the superheroes this time. Every time you win a game, you got the crowd. I think that was the most people I’ve ever sang Country Roads with.”
Pitching change, ensuing action
Pitcher David Hagen came into the game for WVU to start the top of the 7th. Kraus led off the inning with a walk. Hagen answered by striking out Anderson for the first out. Stellrecht grounded to second base, the Mountaineers were able to get the lead runner but were unable to retire Stellrecht at first. A ground ball from Hennig retired Stellrecht at second to end the inning.
Lumsden walked to open the inning. Hall struck out the following at-bat. Ineich followed with a single up the middle to put runners at first and second with one out.
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Following the single, the Bearcats went to the bullpen again, this time bringing in Brady Lesiak.
Kelly grounded to third, Lumsden was retired at third but Kelly reached first thanks to a wild throw to first. Schoenfeld smoked a ball, but it got snagged by the third baseman Hennig to end the inning.
Hagen retired the Bearcats in order in the top of the eighth.
Smith led off the bottom of the eighth for the Mountaineers and was retired on strikes. Graveline reached base on a walk in the following at-bat. Guzman hit into a double play to end the inning.
Hagen takes over and shuts the door
Hagen slammed the door on the Bearcats, retiring them in order once again and adding two more strike outs to his total to seal a 10-1 victory for the Mountaineers. Guzman followed with a double to the wall, dropped by the centerfielder Bolton. Guzman stole third during the at-bat to Kresser. Kresser walked on 5 pitches to put runners at the corners for the Mountaineers with no outs.
After the Kresser walk, Binghamton went to the bullpen, bringing Jackson Mitchell into the game. Kresser stole second base during the Lumsden at-bat. Lumsden welcomed Mitchell to the game with a 3-run home run to right field, extending the WVU lead 5-1. After a Hall ground out, Ineich reached base on a walk to give WVU another base runner. Kelly flew out to center for the second out of the inning. Schoenfeld grounded out to first, ending an incredible inning for the Mountaineers.
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Hagen takes over, continued
A bobbled ball by Guzman allowed Kraus reached first base to open the top of the fifth. Cole recorded another strikeout, this time retiring Zach Anderson. Following a single from Stellrecht, Cole struck out Hennig for the second out of the inning. Gonzalez reached base after a bobbled ball by the Ineich to load the bases. Cole struck out Sweeney to end the inning and keep the WVU lead at 4.
Sean Smith grounded out to open the bottom of the fifth. Graveline struck out. Guzman followed with a walk on a 3-2. Kresser went down on strikes in the following at-bat to end the inning. Cole once again retired the Bearcats in order in the top of the sixth.
Jake Dally took the mound for Binghamton to start the bottom of the sixth. Lumsden singled to center to open the inning for WVU. Lumsden reached 2nd base on a wild pitch to hall. Hall blasted one off the right field wall for a double to put runners at second and third with no outs. Ineich grounded out in the next at bat and was unable to advance either runner. Kelly stepped to the plate and doubled to the gap in left to score two, extending the Mountaineers lead 7-1.
Action rolls on
Schoenfeld grounded out but was able to advance Kelly to third with two outs. Smith reached base after getting hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners with two outs. The very next at-bat, Graveline got hit by the very first pitch he saw, drawing a groan from the Mountaineer faithful. Guzman with the bases loaded, blooper a ball to left to score two three to extend the lead 10-1. Kresser grounded out to end another tremendous inning from the Mountaineers who received a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Pitcher David Hagen came into the game for WVU to start the top of the 7th. Kraus led off the inning with a walk. Hagen answered by striking out Anderson for the first out. Stellrecht grounded to second base, the Mountaineers were able to get the lead runner but were unable to retire Stellrecht at first. A ground ball from Hennig retired Stellrecht at second to end the inning.
Lumsden walked to open the inning. Hall struck out the following at-bat. Ineich followed with a single up the middle to put runners at first and second with one out.
Finishing the job
Following the single, the Bearcats went to the bullpen again, this time bringing in Brady Lesiak.
Kelly grounded to third and Lumsden went down, but Kelly reached first thanks to a wild throw to first. Schoenfeld smoked a ball, but third baseman Hennig snagged it to end the inning.
Hagen retired the Bearcats in order in the top of the eighth.
Smith led off the bottom of the eighth for the Mountaineers and went down on strikes. Graveline reached base on a walk in the following at-bat. Guzman hit into a double play to end the inning.
WVU wins 10-1
Hagen slammed the door on the Bearcats, retiring them in order once again and adding two more strike outs to his total to seal a 10-1 victory for the Mountaineers.
WVU moves to the winners’ bracket, where the Mountaineers will play Kentucky at 5 p.m., while Binghamton drops to the losers’ bracket to face Wake Forest in an elimination game.
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