By: Shanna Rose
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–The West Virginia University baseball team defeated Pitt 11-1 in the Backyard Brawl on Wednesday night in front of a record-breaking 4,629 fans at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Gavin Kelly had three hits and drove in three runs for the Mountaineers (24-4). Brodie Kresser, Grant Hussey, Logan Suave, and Armani Guzman each had two hits.
Benjamin Hudson (1-0) earned the win. He tossed five innings, surrendering just one run on two hits. He struck out four.
The Panthers (16-12) were held to just four hits.
WVU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning. Gavin Kelly singled to center field, driving in Jace Rinehart. With the bases loaded, Pitt walked back-to-back batters. Then Suave’s base hit to left field plated Guzman and Chase Swain.
The Panthers scored their lone run in the fourth when Hudson hit Luke Cantwell with the bases loaded.
However, the Mountaineers made it an 8-1 game in the bottom of the fourth. Rinehart doubled in a run and Kelly singled up the middle, scoring two more.
WVU added a run in the fifth and seventh innings. Then Hussey’s sacrifice fly scored Benjamin Lumsden and ended the game.
The Mountaineers host Utah on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (ET).
