Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia opened its home season in dominating fashion, pounding Ohio 19-6 at Kendrick Family Ballpark on Wednesday at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
The Mountaineers wasted little time getting on the board, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Matt Ineich scored on Paul Schoenfeld’s RBI groundout.
WVU broke the game open in the second. With the bases loaded, Armani Guzman’s groundout brought home Tyrus Hall. Sean Smith followed with an RBI single, and Schoenfeld capped the four-run inning with a two-run triple to deep right field, extending the lead to 5-0.
Shortstop Matt Ineich, who transferred from the Bobcats this offseason, added another run in the third before Brock Wills launched a 356-foot, three-run homer in the fourth, giving the Mountaineers a 9-0 advantage.
Ohio began to rally in the fifth, scoring four runs against reliever Brayden Robinson on a bases-loaded walk, two singles, and a groundout. Robinson induced a double play to limit further damage. The Bobcats added two more runs in the sixth to cut WVU’s lead to 9-6.
The Mountaineers responded in the bottom half of the sixth when Matthew Graveline blasted a two-run home run to left field, his third of the season, putting WVU back on top. Ineich followed with a two-run double, and Armani Guzman added a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 14-6.
The Mountaineers’ bench helped seal the victory with five additional runs in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run double from freshman Colton Sims.
Ineich led WVU at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs, and three runs scored against his former team. Schoenfeld and Wills each drove in three runs, while Schoenfeld added a double and a triple. Seniors Wills and Graveline both homered, and second baseman Brodie Kresser and catcher Gavin Kelly each collected two hits.
Sophomore David Hagen earned the win in his first start of the season, pitching two scoreless innings. Nine Mountaineers pitchers combined to hold the Bobcats in check, with Bryson Thacker and the trio of Carson Estridge, Joshua Surigao, and Bryant Yoak each tossing scoreless frames.
Bobcats’ starter Aiden Cook allowed one run in one inning before leaving with an injury. Ohio was led offensively by Henson, who had two hits, a double, and three RBIs, while Cameron Boyd and Cam Bryant each had two hits.
WVU improves to 6-1 on the season and will travel to Kennesaw State for a three-game series starting Friday at 4 p.m.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
