WVU (6-1) played at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark for the first time this season and put on a show on offense. They scored 19 runs and coasted to a victory hours after they cleared the snow-covered field. The weather may not have been optimal, but the fans that showed up got a show from the Mountaineers’ offense. They hit two home runs and saw nearly every player who dressed. Read more: WVU Baseball dominates Ohio in home opener.
Early innings
David Hagen drew the start for the Mountaineers, his first of the season. He hit the first batter, Tyler Harris, for Ohio, and gave up a single after securing one out. Harris was thrown out at home on the single by Matthew Graveline in left field. Cameron Boyd, who reached first on the single, was caught stealing second to end the inning.
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Matt Ineich led off the inning with a double, and Gavin Kelly reached on a fielding error. Sean Smith drew a one-out walk to load the bases, but WVU only scored one run with the opportunity. Paul Schoenfeld grounded out to first base, which allowed Ineich to score.
Hagen struck out one batter in a one-two-three inning. That was his final inning of the game, as Sabins typically likes to go to the bullpen early and often in midweek games. Hagen pitched two innings, allowed two hits, with one strikeout on 23 pitches.
WVU breaks it open
Tyrus Hall walked on a full count with one out to get on base. Ineich laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line to reach first and move the runner over. Kelly followed with a hard-hit single, which loaded the bases. Armani Guzman picked up an RBI with a fielder’s choice to second base, but Ohio was unable to turn the double play to end the inning. Sean Smith singled to left center to score another run. Schoenfeld followed it with a triple to deep right-center, which brought the score to 5-0.
Mac Stiffler replaced Hagen at the top of the third inning and walked the first batter of the inning. Tyler Stack advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Stiffler put the next batter on on a four-pitch walk. He hit the third batter he faced, which loaded the bases, and ended his outing. Bryson Thacker replaced Stiffler, making his fourth appearance of the season. He struck out two batters and got one to pop up in foul territory to get out of the bases-loaded jam.
Brodie Kresser doubled off the third pitcher in as many innings for the Bobcats to start the inning. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on another ground ball from Ineich. The inning ended after a Kelly strikeout with the Mountaineers leading 6-0 after three innings.
Middle innings
Wyatt Mosley replaced Thacker at the top of the fourth and walked two batters. He picked off Will Henson after a four-pitch walk and got a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning. WVU got two runners on in the bottom of the inning, and Brock Wills hit a 356-foot homerun to make the score 9-0.
Mosley started the fifth inning, but gave up a single, hit a batter, and walked another to load the bases. Brayden Robinson replaced him and did not get out of the jam. He walked a run in and gave up back-to-back singles. Both singles only scored one run apiece, giving Ohio three runs. Grant Wilson grounded into a double play, but Boyd scored, making the score 9-4. Ian Korn replaced Robinson and secured a strikeout to end the inning.
Hayden Blosser came in for the bottom of the fifth inning for Ohio and got three outs after allowing a single to Ineich. Reese Harmon reached on a bunt single to start the sixth inning. Cam Hill grounded into a double play, turned by shortstop Ineich and second baseman Kresser. Korn struggled to get the third out, however, allowing two walks and a single with two outs. Will Henson doubled to drive in two runs, but Cam Bryant was thrown out at home to end the inning.
WVU responds to six unanswered runs
Schoenfeld doubled to start the bottom of the sixth, and Graveline homered to give WVU an 11-6 lead. Wills reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hall walked to give the Mountaineers men on first and second with one out. Ineich got his fourth hit of the game with a double to left center, which scored two runs. Kelly reached second on an error by the right fielder, and Ineich moved to third. He scored on a sacrifice fly from Guzman in the next at-bat. WVU led 14-6 at the end of six innings.
Late innings
Carson Estridge replaced Korn in the seventh inning and got three consecutive outs. Dillon Masters did the same for Ohio at the bottom of the inning, making it the quickest inning of the game. Joshua Surigao came in for Estridge in the eighth inning. He allowed one double, but no runs as he got the other three batters out, two with strikeouts.
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WVU was able to get some new players into the game in the bottom of the eighth. Weston Mazey walked to lead off the inning, and a pitch hit Creed Erdos. Kelly walked to load the bases, and Guzman walked after him to score a run. Colton Sims pinch-hit for Smith and doubled to score two runs. Ryan Maggy singled to score the final run of the game for WVU, giving them a 19-6 lead.
Bryant Yoak finished the game for WVU and struck out the first batter he faced on three pitches. He walked the next batter, but got the next two to end the game. WVU won 19-6.
Top performers
- M. Ineich (WVU): 4-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R
- P. Schoenfeld (WVU): 2-for-5, 3B, 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R
- B. Wills (WVU): 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
- M. Graveline (WVU): 1-for-1, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB
What’s next?
WVU returns to action on Friday as they make their way to Kennesaw, Georgia. They play Kennesaw State in a three-game series at Mickey Dunn Stadium. Friday’s game begins at 4 p.m. EST, Saturday’s at 2 p.m. EST, and Sunday’s at noon.
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