It was a tight-knit game going into the bottom of the seventh inning between WVU Baseball and North Carolina. The Mountaineers allowed three unearned runs to fall into a deficit they could not recover from. Read more: Unearned unease: disastrous inning sends WVU to brink of elimination.
The wheels fall off
Knotted at 2-2 with the Tar Heels returning to the plate, the half-inning was doomed from the jump for WVU.
The at-bat for UNC’s Colin Hynek began with an 0-2 count thanks to WVU pitcher Maxx Yehl’s performance on the mound. Yehl then threw his first ball of the at-bat to make it a 1-2 count against the Georgia State transfer.
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It all fell apart when WVU third baseman Tyrus Hall collected an error on the throw to first, allowing Hynek to reach. Carter French came up and grounded into a fielder’s choice, sending Hynek to second and taking an out.
Junior Tar Heel Jake Schaffner grounded into a fielder’s choice, but another Mountaineer error allowed runners on first and second to remain safe. This time it was Brodie Kresser who was unable to snag the ball properly.
WVU’s worst nightmare
Just when it felt like it could not get any worse, Gavin “Captain Clutch” Gallagher launched a triple to deep center to score two. The blast made it 4-2 in favor of UNC. What hurts the most for those who have followed WVU Baseball for more than three seasons know his past with the Mountaineers.
Gallagher slugged in the most opportune moments in both games of the 2024 Chapel Hill Super Regional, sending WVU home with his performances.
Luckily for the Mountaineers, his timely play did not come in an elimination game this time. It does, however, put WVU on the brink.
Gallagher got sent home on an Owen Hull base hit to make it 5-2. WVU had a few chances to rally down the stretch, but the Tar Heel bullpen slammed the door shut.
Facing elimination
WVU heads to the losers’ bracket, where the Mountaineers will have to play Troy for a second time. This time, it is do-or-die for both squads. The elimination game between WVU and Troy is set for 2 p.m. EST/1 p.m. local on Tuesday. The survivor moves on to Wednesday to face UNC for a spot in the final round.
Related: Trojans rally from early deficit, eliminate Ole Miss in 12-8 triumph
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