By: Shanna Rose
PROVO, Utah – The West Virginia University baseball team scored a season-high 20 runs, defeating BYU 20-6, on Friday at Miller Park.
The Mountaineers (21-4, 3-3 Big 12) had 19 hits, six of which came from the bottom of the lineup. Armani Guzman and Spencer Barnett each had three hits. Barnett drove in four runs and Guzman and Gavin Kelly each knocked in three.
Gavin Van Kempen tossed 4.2 innings, giving up two runs and striking out four. Chase Meyer (5-1) tossed 2.1 perfect frames and struck out four.
Bryker Hurdsman led the Cougars (14-10, 4-4) with two hits. He scored two runs.
In the second, WVU took a 1-0 lead when Armani Guzman’s base hit scored Grant Hussey.
BYU tied the game in the bottom half of the inning but the Mountaineers regained the lead on Skylar King’s solo shot to right field. Then Gavin Kelly made it a 3-1 contest with a single to right center.
Brock Watkins cut the Cougars’ deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI single.
In the fifth, Spencer Barnett knocked in two runs on a single to right field, giving WVU a 5-2 lead.
The Mountaineers broke the game open in the seventh with a seven-run inning. Barnett’s triple gave WVU a 7-2 lead. Then Brodie Kresser’s single up the middle plated Barnett. Jace Rinehart and Kelly each drove in two runs with base hits to give the Mountaineers a 12-2 advantage.
WVU tacked on eight more runs in the eighth.
Game three of the series is on Saturday. Because of possible inclement weather, first pitch for game three has been moved up to 2 p.m. ET.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
