The No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers (10-3) closed their weekend series with a dominant 16–1 win over the Columbia Lions (2-7) on Sunday at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The victory secured the series for West Virginia after the teams split the first two games.
Read more: No. 23 WVU shuts the door on Columbia in 16-1 blowout.
Early momentum
West Virginia wasted little time taking control of the game. The Mountaineers broke the game open early and never looked back. Patient at-bats and timely hitting led to many runs throughout the afternoon.
Columbia struck first in the opening inning when Jackson Brewer drove in Cole Fellows. It was the Lions’ only run of the game.
West Virginia answered quickly erupting with six runs in the second inning to take control. Shortstop Matt Ineich delivered the biggest swing of the frame with a grand slam. The early outburst put Columbia’s pitching staff on its heels and gave the Mountaineers a lead they never surrendered.
West Virginia added two more runs in the third inning. They continued to take advantage of walks and base runners, helping to build upon an already comfortable lead.
Related: Brodie Kresser walks it off in grand fashion, WVU evens series with Colombia
Ineich leads the offense
Ineich led the Mountaineers at the plate. The shortstop finished 2-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs. His early homer set the tone for West Virginia’s offense and helped break the game open.
Several other Mountaineers contributed as well, including Brodie Kresser. He finished with two hits, two runs, and three RBIs. Sean Smith added two hits and two runs, and Gavin Kelly collected two hits including a double and scored twice.
West Virginia showed patience at the plate throughout the game. The Mountaineers drew 13 walks and forced Columbia pitchers into long innings.
Strong outing from Yehl
Maxx Yehl delivered another strong start on the mound. He worked six innings and allowed only one run on five hits. He struck out nine batters and improved to 2-0 on the season.
After Yehl exited the game, the Mountaineer bullpen kept the Lions quiet. Joshua Surigao, Weston Smith, and JD Costanzo combined for three scoreless innings to close out the win.
Columbia recorded nine hits in the game, but ultimately struggled to turn those opportunities into runs.
West Virginia continued to add to the lead, even late in the game. The Mountaineers scored several more runs in the final innings to stretch the lead to 16-1 and put the game well out of reach. The offense finished strong with 12 hits and 14 RBIs on the afternoon.
What’s next
With the win, West Virginia secures the weekend series and builds momentum for schedule ahead. The Mountaineers aim to carry that momentum into their next matchup as the schedule continues. WVU squares off against Maryland on Tuesday before traveling to Waco, Texas, to take on Baylor.
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