Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State erased a six-run deficit to down No. 20 West Virginia 7–6 in the series finale Sunday afternoon.
The Mountaineers (8–2) jumped out to a 6–0 lead before the Owls (5–5) used late-inning heroics to knock off WVU.
Gavin Kelly went 3-for-4 for the Mountaineers with two home runs and four RBIs, while Matthew Graveline added two hits.
David Perez (0–1) took the loss for WVU. Maxx Yehl made the start and tossed five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while walking three.
Cooper Williams paced Kennesaw State with three hits and three RBIs.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Owls pulled within 6–5 after Grayson McCollum’s RBI single and a two-run home run by Jackson Chirello down the right-field line off Carson Estridge. Perez entered in relief and recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
Kennesaw State completed the rally in the eighth when Williams blasted a two-run home run off Perez to give the Owls a 7–6 lead.
The Mountaineers threatened in the ninth after Graveline doubled, but Kennesaw State retired the side to salvage the series finale.
WVU struck early. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Ryan Maggy singled to center to score Kelly and Matt Ineich for a 2–0 lead.
In the second, Kelly launched a three-run homer to extend the advantage to 5–0.
Yehl worked out of trouble in the bottom of the second, walking the bases loaded with two outs before striking out Adam Posey to escape unscathed.
The Mountaineers missed an opportunity to add on in the fifth when it left the bases loaded after Tyrus Hall grounded out to third.
Kelly’s second home run came in the sixth to make it 6–0. The Owls responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to four.
WVU returns home for a two-game series against Radford on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
