WVU (14-4, 3-1 Big 12) started on the right foot in its home conference opener against BYU. They won 7-4, and Dawson Montesa pitched a phenomenal game for WVU. The Mountaineers are up to No. 20 in the D1 Top 25 and are looking to move up the rankings as they play more conference games. They play another day game tomorrow against the Cougars in the second game of the series. Read more: WVU takes the first game against BYU.
Early innings
Dawson Montesa started for WVU and pitched a great game. He gave up one hit in the top of the first to Ezra McNaughton, but got through the frame unscathed. Garrison Sumner started for the Cougars. He allowed two baserunners via walks in the bottom of the inning, but did not give up a run.
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Montesa continued to deal in the second inning. He hit the first batter, but got three consecutive outs after to close the inning. The Mountaineers got on the board in the second inning, starting with an Armani Guzman walk. He stole second to put himself in scoring position, and Matthew Graveline drove him in with a double. Graveline advanced to third base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt. He scored after Tyrus Hall singled up the middle.
Matt Ineich singled with one out in the inning, which moved Hall to third base. Hall scored on a wild pitch, and Paul Schoenfeld drove in Ineich with a single. That gave WVU a 4-0 lead after two innings.
The top of the third was quick for the Mountaineers. Montesa finished with a 1-2-3 inning, but WVU did not do much in the bottom half of the inning. Brodie Kresser got a one-out single, and Guzman walked in the following at-bat. Sumner got two more outs and got out of the jam.
Middle innings
Montesa and Sumner continued to pitch into the fourth inning. They both recorded three quick outs, while Sumner allowed just one walk in the scoreless inning. BYU got its first run at the top of the fifth. Ridge Erickson hit a 418-foot home run with two outs. It was a solo shot that made the score 4-1.
Luke Sterner came in from the bullpen for the Cougars in the bottom of the fifth. He pitched a flawless inning, recording one strikeout. Montesa hit a batter with two outs in the top of the sixth, but got the other three batters out, two by strikeout.
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— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) March 19, 2026
WVU padded its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hall got a one-out infield single and scored two pitches later. Ineich singled through the left side of the infield, and Hall scored on a fielding error. Gavin Kelly homered to left field to put two more runs on the board. Dan Brousseau came in for the Cougars and got the final two outs to end the inning, WVU winning 7-1.
Late innings
Montesa continued into the seventh inning, which was his final of the game. He allowed a solo home run to Easton Jones, but the lead was not in jeopardy. The Cougars trailed 7-2 after the top of the seventh inning. Nate Wochner replaced Brousseau in the bottom of the seventh, and he got three consecutive outs.
Bryson Thacker replaced Montesa in the eighth inning and allowed only one baserunner. He gave up a two-out walk, but struck out the next batter for the third out. WVU had three baserunners in the bottom of the eighth, but did not score a run. Ryan Maggy pinch hit for Sean Smith and loaded the bases with a walk. Brock Snow came in for the Cougars and got Brock Wills to strike out looking to end the frame.
BYU tried to mount a comeback in the ninth inning, but it did not develop. Bryant Yoak replaced Thacker on the mound and issued a one-out walk. Jones hit another towering home run (423 feet) to score two runs, but that was it for the Cougars. Yoak gave up a single and was replaced by David Perez. Perez struck out the final two hitters to end the game. West Virginia won 7-4.
Top performers
- D. Montesa (WVU): 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 HBP, 7 K (W, 3-2)
- G. Kelly (WVU): 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R
- E. Jones (BYU): 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
What’s next?
WVU returns to action on Friday, March 20, for the second game against BYU at 2 p.m. ET. The final game of the series is on Saturday, at 12:30 p.m. ET.
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