Mountaineers held to three hits in 5-0 shutout loss to UCF

The Mountaineers fell to the UCF Knights in the first game of the series, managing just three hits in a 5-0 shutout loss. Dawson Montesa started on the mound for WVU and retired the Knights in order in the first inning, but UCF took control with a run in the second and never looked back. Braden Smith, the Knights’ starter, was forced to leave the game after taking a line drive to the face off the bat of Sean Smith, an incident that overshadowed a dominant pitching performance from UCF’s bullpen. Read more: Mountaineers held to three hits in 5-0 shutout loss to UCF.

Dawson Montesa took the mound for the Mountaineers Friday. Montesa retired the Knights in order in the top of the first with two strikeouts and a groundout to first. Braden Smith started on the mound for the Knights. Matt Ineich stepped up to the plate and drew a walk on a 3-2 count. WVU failed to capitalize, as Gavin Kelly grounded into a double play the very next at-bat.

Injury overshadows early innings

Following a single from Paul Schoenfeld, a chilling situation unfolded for UCF pitcher Braden Smith. Smith took a line drive to the face off the bat of Sean Smith. Sean was thrown out at first and Braden was later carted off the field with a towel over his face. There is no update on his condition at the time of publication.

Knights open up the scoring

The Knights struck first in the top of the second. Following a strike out from Zak Skinner, Javier Crespo singled to center. Landon Moran grounded out to first but advanced Crespo to second. Deamez Ross singled to center to bring home Crespo and give UCF a 1-0 lead. Jordan Lodise flew out to deep right field to end the inning.

Max Murray took the mound in relief of Braden Smith in the bottom of the second. Brock Wills led off the inning for WVU and reach first base after being hit by a pitch. Following a strikeout to Brodie Kresser, Wills was thrown out trying to steal second base. Armani Guzman grounded out to first to end the inning.

UCF extends lead with solo homer

Following a strike out to Austin Jacobs and a fly out from Cayden Gaskins, Andrew Williamson added to the Knights lead with a solo home run to center, giving UCF a 2-0 lead. John Smith grounded out to end the inning.

Matthew Graveline led off for WVU in the bottom of the third. Graveline hit a ground ball back to the pitcher Murray, who threw a wild ball to first that missed the first baseman’s glove, allowing Graveline to reach second base. The Mountaineers were unable to take advantage of the Knights’ mistake. A strikeout to Hall and a flyout from Ineich gave UCF two quick outs. Gavin Kelly reached base after being hit by a pitch but Schoenfeld struck out, leaving the Mountaineers scoreless.

Knights add insurance in fourth

The Knights continued to pad their lead in the top of the fourth. Skinner led off the inning with a walk. Following a strikeout to Crespo, Landon Moran singled to center to put runners at first and second with one out. Ross singled to left to bring home Skinner and extend the lead 3-0. Lodise and Jacobs both struck out to end the inning.

The Mountaineers went down in order in the bottom of the fourth.

Knights add another run

Ian Korn came into the game for the Mountaineers in the top of the fifth, starting with a strikeout to Gaskins. After a single from Williamson, Smith doubled off the centerfield wall to score another run (4-0) for the Knights. A ground out from Skinner and a strikeout to Crespo ended the inning.

After a Guzman single to open the bottom of the fifth, UCF went to the bullpen and brought in Kevin Schoneboom. Schoneboom retired the rest of the Mountaineers in order to end the inning.

Scoreless sixth

The Mountaineers retired the Knights in order in the top of the sixth. Kelly opened the bottom of the sixth with a single to left. Schoenfeld grounded out to first but was able to advance Kelly to second.

After Smith was hit by a pitch, UCF went back to the bullpen to bring in Kris Sosnowski. Sosnowski got Wills to fly out and Kresser to ground out to end the inning.

UCF takes commanding lead

After a Jacobs strikeout and a Gaskins pop out to start the top of the seventh, Williamson smacked a solo home run down the left field line to give UCF a 5-0 advantage. After a single to Smith, Skinner flew out to center to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Guzman hustled to first base, avoiding a tag to give WVU a lead-off base runner. Ryan Maggy (pinch hitting for Graveline) struck out. Guzman was able to steal second base but was left stranded after a strike out from Hall and a groundout from Ineich.

Following a strike out to Crespo in the top of the eighth, Moran singled to right. The Mountaineers escaped the inning after Ross grounded into an inning-ending double play.

WVU bats stay cold

The struggles on offense continued for WVU in the bottom of the eighth, being retired in order once again.

Weston Smith came into the game for WVU in the top of the ninth. Smith retired the Knights in order with one strikeout.

Evan Jones came into the game for UCF in the bottom of the ninth and retired the Mountaineers in order with one strikeout.

Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. EST on Saturday. Stay up to date with WV Sports Nation for more WVU Athletics coverage.

Author

Brendan Statler, Staff Writer

Brendan Statler graduated from Calvary Chapel Brownsville in 2017. He will graduate from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s degree in strategic communication in 2025. He co-founder with Free Soil Media and host of his own podcast.

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