The West Virginia University baseball team just wins and wins and wins. Seniors Brodie Kresser and Reese Bassinger propelled the Mountaineers to another come-from-behind win as the Mountaineers were victorious by a score of 6-4 over the Utah Utes at Kendrick Family Ballpark in the first game of Saturday’s weather-induced doubleheader. Read more Kresser, Bassinger star as WVU baseball wins sixth consecutive game in 6-4 win over Utah.
The sixth win in a row pushes WVU (26-4, 6-3 Big 12) into a tie for second place in the Big 12, and a loss for Utah (13-15, 2-10 Big 12) sinks them below UCF for last place in the conference.
Utah got an early lead in the top of the first, scoring on an infield single, but ultimately squandered their scoring chances when senior shortstop Brodie Kresser was able to double up a Ute runner on a pop-up.
WVU Strikes Back
West Virginia struck right back. An infield single by senior left fielder Jace Rinehart drove in Kresser for the tying run. Kresser stayed in the scoring action, this time breaking the game wide open in the bottom of the second with a three-run homer which plated sophomore right fielder Armani Guzman and redshirt senior Chase Swain.
While the top of the fourth saw Utah claw a run back through a sac fly, Kresser once again came through as he hit an RBI double to plate sophomore second baseman Spencer Barnett.
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After junior righty starter Gavin Kempen put runners on second and third with one out, he was removed from the game for Bassinger. This didn’t stop the Utes though, as they managed to score both runners with a left field single to make it a one-run game.
An insurance run in the bottom of the seventh gave the Mountaineers a little bit of breathing room, as freshman catcher Gavin Kelly hit a sac fly to left field, driving in senior designated hitter Kyle West.
Utah threatened in the top of the eighth with a runner on second and third, but Bassinger was able to induce a weak grounder to end the inning, giving WVU a sigh of relief.
With the tying run in star Utes shortstop Core Jackson up to the plate in the top of the ninth, Guzman saved the day once again, making a highlight reel catch over the fence in foul territory down the right field line, and Bassinger was able to get the next batter out, averting danger and securing another win for the Mountaineers.
Mountaineers at the Plate
The Mountaineers went 9-31 (.290) at the plate, and Kresser was a huge part of that. Tying a season high in hits and walks, Kresser’s 3-5, 4 RBI, one double and one homer performance proved to be the difference for West Virginia. Rinehart and Swain were also important contributors as both racked up two hits.
It was another two man effort on the mound, as Van Kempen and Bassinger split duties nearly evenly. Getting the start, Van Kempen went 4.1 innings allowing four runs on four hits and three walks. getting tagged with two runners that scored after Bassinger inherited them from him. Bassinger picked up his third win of the season, as the senior righty pitched 4.2 innings while allowing three hits, no walks and no runs to close out the game for West Virginia, lowering his season ERA to 2.64. Of note WVU’s pitchers only picked up two strikeouts, their lowest total in a game since 2022, but other means of getting outs worked for the Mountaineers.
The second game of the doubleheader is Saturday afternoon, with WVU looking for their first Big 12 sweep in over 11 months.
Kresser, Bassinger star as WVU baseball wins sixth consecutive game in 6-4 win over Utah
