WVU is on a roll as they move to 32-4 on the season and extend their winning streak to 12. They beat the Cincinnati Bearcats 3-2 on the arms of nine solid innings from Griffin Kirn and Chase Meyer. They move to 11-3 in the Big 12 and 13-3 at home. WVU hosts Cincinnati in the second game of the series tomorrow at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark at 6:30 p.m. Read more: The Mountaineers extend their streak to 12 against Cincinnati.
Recap: The Mountaineers Extend Their Streak to 12 Against Cincinnati
Griffin Kirn started the game for the Mountaineers and pitched well to start. He got the first two batters to fly out and the third to ground out in the first inning. WVU scored a run in the bottom of the inning due to some hustle and awareness from Kyle West. He struck out swinging, which would have been the third out, but reached first on a wild pitch. He stole second, which put him in scoring position. Jace Rinehart knocked him with a single to score an unlikely run.
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Kirn continued to be stellar with a 1-2-3 second inning. The Mountaineers followed that up with a quick inning at the plate. The lone hiccup for Kirn occurred in the third inning. He allowed a leadoff single to second baseman Lauden Brooks. Brooks moved to second on a bunt single from Kory Klingenbeck with one out. Third baseman Kerrington Cross singled on another bunt to advance the runners. Centerfielder Donovan Ford singled to right center to score two runners. Kirn got the next two batters to get out of the inning, but the Bearcats went up 2-1.
WVU got another run in the third inning thanks to some good baserunning. Second baseman Spencer Barnett singled to right field to start the inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a Skylar King ground out to first base. Barnett scored on a wild pitch before the Bearcats ended the inning.
Kirn got back on track with another quick inning with two strikeouts. Sam White singled up the middle but got caught stealing at second. The fifth inning was the same as Kirn recorded another strikeout in a 1-2-3 inning. WVU followed suit and recorded three consecutive outs. Kirn started on the mound in the top of the sixth but walked the first batter. He advanced to second on a Cal Sefcik single and third on a fielding error by the left fielder. WVU got the runner at home on a fielder’s choice to third to save a run. Kirn’s night ended after hitting the next batter. He was replaced by Chase Meyer. Meyer got out of the inning with a strikeout.
The Mountaineers took the lead in the bottom of the sixth and never looked back. Kyle West walked to get on base. West got knocked in by Rinehart double down the left-field line. That gave WVU a 3-2 lead with one of their best pitchers on the mound. Meyer allowed three baserunners in the final three innings of the game and got the win. He finished the seventh inning by striking out the Big 12’s leading hitter, Kerrington Cross. Meyer also started a double play to get out of a jam in the eighth inning after walking two batters.
The Bearcats were threatening in the top of the ninth after Quinton Coats singled to start the inning. Derrick Pitts pinch-ran for him and stole second. He was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt as the tying run. Meyer struck out the final two batters to preserve the Mountaineers’ victory.
Takeaways
WVU’s pitching came up clutch again in another hard-fought win against a conference opponent. Kirn finished with 5.2 innings pitched, six strikeouts, and two earned runs. It was another quality start for WVU to start a series, which always pays dividends heading into the final two games. Meyer finished the job to record the win, which moved him to 7-1 on the season. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowed one hit, and struck out five hitters.
The Mountaineers’ bats only recorded five hits in the game but scored some unlikely runs due to hustle and awareness. Kyle West was the MVP of the game on offense, scoring two runs. He did not record a hit but walked twice and got on base after striking out and reaching first on a wild pitch. Jace Rinehart produced some timely hitting, recording two RBIs on two hits. It was a gritty win for the Mountaineers, but well deserved.
