Strong starts and early defensive plays
Chansen Cole took the mound for the Mountaineers. He had a solid start in the first inning, striking out two for the first and third outs of the inning. The second out of the inning was recorded thanks to a strong throw from catcher Gavin Kelly to second base to catch the runner stealing.
Wayland Crane got the start for the Cougars. With two outs Paul Schoenfeld belted a double off the center field wall to give the Mountaineers their first scoring chance of the day. Unfortunately for WVU, Matthew Graveline went down on strikes to end the inning scoreless.
BYU jumps ahead, WVU answers quickly
Crew McChesney led off the second inning for BYU, blasting a solo home run to center field to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Cole rebounded from the home run, retiring the next three batters in order, including two strikeouts to get out of the inning.
Back to back singles from Brodie Kresser and Brock Wills put runners at 1st and 3rd with no outs for WVU.
After a strikeout from Sean Smith, a wild throw from the pitcher to second base allowed the runners to advance.
Armani Guzman hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Kresser and tie the game. Meanwhile, Wills was thrown out trying to advance to third to end the inning tied at 1.
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Cole retired the first two batters in the third inning, then walked three straight batters to load the bases. With the bases loaded Mcchesney hit a double to center field, scoring 3 runs to give BYU a 4-1 advantage. Cole struck out Bryker Hurdsman to end the inning.
Tyrus Hall led off the fourth for the Mountaineers, hitting a single to center field. Kelly hit a double down the third base line to score Hall and cut the BYU lead in half. After a strikeout to Ineich, Schoenfeld hit a single to score Kelly, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Graveline and Kresser both flew out to end the inning.
Cougars pull away 8-3 after rain delay
Easton Jones singled to open the inning for BYU. Keoni Painter doubled to right field to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs.
After a 22 minute rain delay, Mac Stiffler came in from the bullpen to resume play for WVU. The Mountaineers recorded the first out of the inning at home plate, tagging out Jones on a bunt attempt from Parker Goff. Following the out a disastrous inning unfolded for the Mountaineers. Tu’alau Wolfgramm singled to score a run and extend the Cougar lead 5-3.
Luke Anderson reached first base on a walk to load the bases.
Bryson Thacker came into the game for WVU and walked Ezra McNaughton on a 3-2 pitch to score another run for BYU and make the score 6-3 in favor of the Cougars.
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The Mountaineers went to the bullpen yet again to bring in Ian Korn.
Korn gave up a hit to Ryder Robinson, adding two more runs and extending the lead 8-3 for BYU.
Korn finally got the Mountaineers out of the inning after a pop up to Schoenfeld and a strikeout to Hurdsman.
Dueling pitchers
BYU also utilized their bullpen after the rain delay, brining in Justis Reiser.
Reiser retired three of the first four batters he faced and kept WVU off the board.
Korn responded with a strong inning retiring the Cougars in order.
Mountaineers mount furious rally
After singles from Ineich and Schoenfeld, Matthew Graveline answered with a single of his own up the mound to load the bases with one out. Brodie Kresser stepped to the plate and singled up the middle to score two and cut the lead 8-5.
Brock Wills showed off his speed, reaching first base after a head first dive to load the bases with only one out.
After a Ryan Maggy (pinch hitting for Sean Smith) strikeout, Guzman blistered a ball to the first base, causing the first baseman to bobble the ball, allowing Guzman to reach first and drive in a run to cut BYU’s lead to just 2.
BYU made a pitching change to bring in Brayden Marx, who walked Tyrus Hall on five pitches to make the score 8-7.
Ineich was tagged out on his way to first to end the inning.
After giving up a double to Wolfgramm, Korn struck out the next three batters he faced to keep the score 8-7.
Following a single from Kelly, Schoenfeld recorded his 4th hit of the day, singling to right field, putting runners at first and second with no outs.
After a sacrifice bunt from Graveline to advance the runners, Kresser hit a sacrifice fly to score Kelly and tie the game.
Another pitching change from BYU brought Ashton Johnson into the game with 2 outs and a runner at 2nd. Johnson retired Brock Wills to end the inning.
Korn continued his dominance in the seventh, retiring the Cougars in order with two strikeouts.
Mountaineers take the lead
After strike outs from Zahir Barjam (pinch hitting for Maggy) and Guzman, Tyrus Hall singled to right.
Following a walk to Ineich, Kelly hit an 0-2 pitch to center field, giving WVU a 10-8 lead.
Schoenfeld added on with a shot down the right field line to bring Kelly home.
Don Brousseau came in from the BYU bullpen and threw a wild pitch to Graveline to advance Schoenfeld to third.
A second wild pitch to Graveline scored Schoenfeld giving the Mountaineers a 12-8 lead. Graveline grounded out to end the inning.
Korn continued his stellar performance in the 8th, retiring the Cougars in order once again.
Brousseau was able to keep the Mountaineers off the board in the bottom of the 8th.
Perez shuts the door on BYU
Korn started the top of the 9th for WVU. Following a base hit from Anderson, McNaughton hit a two-run home run to right field cutting WVU’s lead to two.
The Mountaineers went to the bullpen and brought David Perez into the game. Perez retired the Cougars in order to secure the comeback victory for the Mountaineers 12-10.
The series finale is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch on Saturday at Kendrick Family Ballpark. Tune in to 100.9 FM The Torch or any of its nine affiliate stations for play-by-play coverage.
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