WVU’s offense explodes in second game against BYU
The West Virginia University baseball team recovered from a 14-5 loss in game one, pummeling BYU 20-6 in the second game of the series at Miller Park in Provo, Utah. Read more WVU’s offense explodes in second game against BYU.
Recap
The Mountaineers (22-4, 3-3 Big 12) took and early lead and the Cougars (14-10, 4-4 Big 12) stayed close for a bit, but ultimately it was rampant 20-6 victory for Steve Sabins’s men.
WVU scored first in the top of the second inning, as sophomore right firlder Armani Guzman singled to left field, driving in senior first baseman Grant Hussey.
BYU answered in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to left field to make it 1-1
Skylar King broke the deadlock the next frame, as he hit a solo homer to right field to put West Virginia back on top. Freshman catcher Gavin Kelly hit an RBI single to right center, later that inning, as senior designated hitter Kyle West.
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The cougars then got back another run in the bottom of the fourth with an infield single to put them within two runs.
WVU had just the answer for this, as sophomore second in the bottom of the fifth as Hussey scored his second run of the day.
The seventh inning brought an onslaught of runs, as West Virginia scored seven times.
Barnett started it off, as he tripled to right field to drive in Guzman and redshirt junior third baseman Chase Swain. Senior shortstop Brodie Kresser then singled up the middle, as Barnett scored to make it 9-2
Senior left fielder Jace Rinehart added another run, as his single to left field plated King and Kresser.
Kelly added the exclamation point, as he singled to right field to drive in freshman pinch runner Jorge Valdes and West.
West Virginia continued to add runs in the right inning, where they scored a whopping eight times
Junior second baseman Ellis Garcia started it off with an RBI single to left field as Guzman scored for the team’s 13th run. Then with the bases loaded West was hit by a pitch and Barnett scored. Valdes then drew a walk as Garcia crossed home plate. Following that Hussey reached on a fielder’s choice, with junior right fielder Ben Lumsden scoring.
Redshirt freshman Alex Marot then doubled to right field, driving in Hussey and sophomore designate hitter Michael Perazza. To cap off the inning, Guzman, doubled to left field as Marot and Kelly scored to put WVU up 20-2.
BYU hit a double to left field to score two in the bottom of the ninth and another RBI single that also scored two but that was it, as WVU won 20-6.
Explosive at the Plate
The Mountaineers were red hot at the plate, going 19-45 (.422) with five extra-base hits and eight walks. Barnett starred for West Virginian, going 3-6 with four RBI. Guzman (3-4) and Kelly (2-4) drove in three runs, while Hussey, Kelly and Swain all had multiple hits as well. The lopsided scoreline allowed Sabins to get many players into the game, as 14 WVU position players played.
Pitching
On the mound five pitchers were used, headlined by starter Gavin Van Kempen. The junior right-handed pitcher threw 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Sophomore righty Chase Meyer excelled in relief, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. In total the bullpen went 5.1 innings with three hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
The two teams will face off again Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
