Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
STATESBORO, Ga. — The switch flipped in the sixth — and West Virginia never looked back.
Trailing 3–2 entering the frame, the Mountaineers erupted for six runs and steamrolled Georgia Southern, 15–3, on Friday to open the season with authority at J.I. Clements Stadium.
For five innings, WVU was chasing the Eagles. Georgia Southern scored in the first, second and fourth, while the Mountaineers left opportunities on the table. Then the lineup turned over, the pressure mounted, and the game cracked open.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases before Ben Lumsden lifted a sacrifice fly to tie it. A balk handed WVU its first lead of the night, and the bats came alive in a hurry.
Gavin Kelly ripped a two-run single into right center. Armani Guzman followed by driving a double down the line to plate two more. In a matter of minutes, a one-run deficit became an 8–3 advantage.
The Mountaineers kept their foot down, piling on four runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth. Matt Ineich delivered a two-RBI triple to deep center in the ninth, and Brock Wills added a sacrifice fly as the WVU turned the opener into a runaway.
Tyrus Hall was everywhere. The JUCO transfer went 3-for-3, scored four runs and consistently put pressure on the Eagles’ defense. Guzman finished with two doubles and three RBIs as the Mountaineers out-hit Georgia Southern, 12–5.
Right-hander Reese Bassinger earned the win, allowing just one hit over 3.2 innings while striking out five and walking two. The Eagles didn’t record a hit from the fourth through the eighth inning.
WVU opens the year 1–0 and continues its opening series against Georgia Southern with a Saturday doubleheader.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
