Early Tests for Both Starters
Maxx Yehl took the mound for the Mountaineers Saturday afternoon against the Cougars. Yehl was tested in the first inning. After retiring Luke Anderson and Ezra McNaughton, Yehl hit Ryder Robinson to give BYU their first base runner of the day. Crew Mcchesney followed the walk with a single to put runners at first and second with two outs. Yehl got out of the inning with no damage after striking out Easton Jones.
Like Yehl, BYU pitcher Nate Gray was also tested in his first inning of work. The inning started off with a ground out from Matt Ineich and a fly out to the warning track in center from Gavin Kelly. Paul Schoenfeld stepped to the plate and delivered a two-out single to right field. Brock Wills hit a double to left center to move Schoenfeld to third. The Mountaineers came up empty in the inning after a strike out to Brodie Kresser ended the inning.
WVU scores three in the second
Yehl had a dominate second inning, striking out the side to keep the Cougars off the board.
After a walk to Matthew Graveline, Armani Guzman singled to center. Tyrus Hall singled to right to allow Graveline to beat out a throw to home and score the first points for WVU. Guzman scored by beating a throw home after a failed attempt to pick off Hall stealing second base to give WVU a 2-0 advantage with just 1 out. Ineich grounded out to first but advanced Hall to third with two outs.
Hall stole home while Kelly was up to bat, giving the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead. Kelly walked after seeing five pitches.
Schoenfeld reached base on a 3-2 walk. Wills singled up the middle to bring Kelly home and extend the lead 4-0.
Kresser grounded to second and BYU tagged second for the force out to end the inning.
Yehl cruises, Cougars stay quiet in middle frames
Tu’alau Wolfgramm singled to open up the top of the third. Anderson laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Wolfgramm. McNaughton went down on strikes for the second out of the inning. Robinson was retired after a catch by Gavin Kelly behind the plate against the net to end the inning.
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Sean Smith led off the bottom of the third with a 4-pitch walk. A wild pitch to Gravelin allowed Smith to advance to 2nd.
Graveline flew out to the second baseman who tagged Smith out for the double play.
Guzman struck out to end the inning.
Action rolls on
After retiring Crew McChesney and Easton Jones, Yehl gave up an infield single to Keoni Painter. Next at-bat Yehl hit Ridge Erickson with a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with two outs. Yehl got out of the inning after striking out Matt Hansen.
To begin the bottom of the fourth, Hall walked on a 3-2 pitch and then stole second base. Ineich also walked on a 3-2 pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs.
BYU made a pitching change to bring in Cayson Bell. After a Kelly strike out, Schoenfeld flew out to center to advance Hall. Wills grounded out to end the inning with no points for WVU.
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After a flyout from Wolfgramm, Yehl gave up a single to Anderson. Yehl regained control of the inning, striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
After a Kresser flyout to open the bottom of the fifth, Smith tripled off the top of the wall in center field. Graveline walked in the next at-bat on a 3-2 pitch to put runners ta 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Guzman hit a sacrifice fly to score Smith and advance Graveline to 2nd and give WVU a 5-0 advantage.
After a walk to Hall, Ineich grounded out to first to end the inning.
Cougars score on solo home run
The Cougars got on the board in the top of the sixth with a solo home run to center from Mcchesney, cutting WVU’s lead 5-1.
After fly outs from Jones and Painter, Erickson grounded out to first to end the inning.
Gavin Kelly singled to open the bottom of the sixth. Schoenfeld flew out to center for the first out of the inning. Kelly was caught stealing second for the second out of the inning. Wills struck out to end the inning.
Mountaineers pull away late
Yehl opened the top of the seventh with a strike out to Hansen. Following the strikeout, Wolfgramm singled to left. Flyouts from Anderson and McNaughton ended the inning for the Cougars with no points added.
After a strike out to Kresser, Smith smacked a solo home run to left field to extend the Mountaineer lead 6-1.
BYU made another pitching change, turning to Austin Park after retiring Graveline on a flyout and walking Guzman.
After the pitching change, Guzman swiped 2nd base. After a walk to Hall, Ineich was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.
Kelly singled to right to drive in 2 runs and make the score 8-1 WVU, Ineich was thrown out at 3rd to end the inning.
Mercy rule finish
Reese Bassinger entered the game for the Mountaineers in the top of the eighth. Bassinger retired Robinson and Mcchesney on groundouts before striking out Jones to end the inning.
Bradyn Marx took the mound for BYU in the bottom of the eighth. Marx walked Schoenfeld on 5 pitches and allowed Schoenfeld to reach 2nd after a pitch in the dirt in the following at-bat. Wills grounded out to first but was able to advance Schoenfeld to 3rd with only 1 out. Kresser also walked on 5 pitches and was able to advance to 2nd thanks to another pitch in the dirt. Smith walked on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases.
BYU made another pitching change, this time bringing in Brock Snow. Snow walked Graveline to make the score 9-1 WVU. Guzman hit to the short stop who made an error throwing to second base, allowing all runners to reach base and make the score 10-1 WVU.
Hall hit a sacrifice fly to score another run to make the score 11-1 West Virginia and end the game and secure the series sweep with the 10-run rule instituted for the game.
