By: Shanna Rose
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–The West Virginia University baseball team completed the three-game sweep over Cincinnati with a 10-5 win on Saturday afternoon at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
The Mountaineer bats erupted to score 10 runs on 13 hits. The Bearcats (21-18, 8-10) scored five runs on five hits.
Jack Kartsonas (4-1) secured the win for WVU (34-4, 13-3 Big 12), tossing six innings and surrendering just one run on one lone hit. He struck out seven.
Logan Sauve scored three runs and had two hits, including a solo home run. Four other Mountaineers each had two hits.
Carson Marsh (3-3) suffered the loss. He pitched 3.2 innings and gave up two runs on two hits.
Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Landyn Vidourek’s base hit scored an unearned run.
In the bottom of the fourth, WVU’s offense caught fire. Sam White’s base hit evened the game up at 1-1. Then Chase Swain’s double to left field plated two more runs. Spencer Barnett’s ground out drove in Swain and gave the Mountaineers a 4-1 advantage.
WVU put up another four spot in the fifth. Sauve scored on a base hit by Jace Rinehart. Another double from Swain scored Rinehart. Barnett’s single through the left side gave the Mountaineers an 8-1 lead.
In the sixth inning, Logan Suave blasted a solo shot to left field. WVU tacked on another run in the seventh to take a 10-1 lead.
The Bearcats attempted to rally in the eighth inning when the Mountaineer relievers struggled to find their rhythm. Mac Stiffler walked the first two batters he faced and Ben McDougal gave up an additional two runs on three hits.
Once again, WVU called on the bullpen and Tyler Hutson recorded the final two outs to get out of the jam.
Up next for the Mountaineers is a Tuesday night contest at Penn State.
Photo Credit: Shanna Rose
