Mountaineers Remain Unbeaten in Win Over Ohio
Steve Sabins continued his perfect start as head coach, as the West Virginia University baseball team improved to 8-0 in an 8-4 victory over Ohio at Monongalia County Ballpark, continuing to have the program’s best start to a season since 1966.
Rocky Start
The Mountaineers didn’t start the game as planned, with two runners reaching base with one out. WVU stopped any Bobcats hopes of scoring though, as junior catcher Logan Suave’s throw to redshirt junior third baseman Chase Swain thwarted OU second baseman Matt Ineich’s stolen base attempt, before freshman right-handed pitcher Mac Stiffler induced a pop-up to end the inning.
West Virginia took advantage of Ohio’s missed opportunity in the bottom of the frame, as junior second baseman Sam White doubled down the right field line, plating sophomore right fielder Armani Guzman. Next up was senior designated hitter Kyle West with another RBI double, as his hit to left center scored Sauve and White to put the Mountaineers up 3-0.
After two more scoreless innings from Stiffler, sophomore right fielder Michael Perazza singled up the middle, with West crossing home plate as WVU’s fourth run of the afternoon.
Stiffler Exits
Stiffler got the ball to start the fourth inning, but after walking in a run with the bases loaded, he was pulled, exiting with 3.1 innings pitched and 66 pitches. Replaced by Morehead State transfer, Luke Lyman, the junior right-hander gave up a sac fly before limiting the damage with a pop up to third base.
Sauve added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth as his single to left field scored Guzman, with freshman right-hander David Hagen giving the Mountaineers a scoreless fifth inning. Another loading of the bases prompted a fifth WVU pitching change, as freshman right-handed pitcher Bryson Hoff replaced junior lefty Cole Fehrman. Despite a wild pitch giving Ohio their third run, Hoff was able to get Inecih to fly out to left, ending the OU rally.
Senior first baseman Grant Hussey didn’t let early season struggles deter him, as the Parkersburg, WV native homered to left field to put West Virginia up 6-3. Sauve was involved in yet another run as his double down the left field line got Swain across home plate for the seventh run.
Senior shortstop Brodie Kresser then tacked on an eighth run in the bottom of the seventh inning as his sac fly scored senior outfielder Jace Rinehart.
A bases loaded sac fly put the score at 8-4, but senior righty Tyler Hutson induced a double play to end the inning. Hutson came back out for the ninth inning and got all three batters out, sealing the eighth win in a row for the Mountaineers to start the season.
Offensive Heroics
The Mountaineers were a force at the plate, going 13-33 with six extra base hits to score eight runs. Sauve collected the most hits on the team, going 3-5 with a double, as well as driving in two runs. West also had two RBI, going 2-3 with two doubles and a walk. Guzman went 2-4, as he and Sauve are both hitting .353 on the season.
It was the epitome of a team effort on the mound, as Sabins used eight pitchers over nine innings. Hutson highlighted this effort from the bullpen, as he gave up only one hit and zero walks in his two innings to finish the game. In total the Mountaineers pitching staff gave up four runs over nine innings, allowing five hits and six walks a hit-by-pitch, while also striking out five Bobcat batters. Notably, the WVU staff only gave up one extra base hit, a double.
