Shanna Rose I WV Sports Chat
PHOENIX – No. 17 West Virginia couldn’t keep pace with No. 22 Arizona State on Friday night, falling 14-4 in eight innings at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in the series opener.
The Mountaineers (17-5, 5-2 Big 12) outhit the Sun Devils early and finished with 13 on the night, but a massive fourth inning propelled Arizona State (20-6, 5-2) on its way to the win.
WVU struck first just two batters in. Matt Ineich walked and later scored on Gavin Kelly’s double to give the Mountaineers a quick 1-0 edge. The Sun Devils answered immediately with a leadoff home run from Landon Hairston, setting the tone for a big night at the plate for Arizona State.
WVU grabbed the lead back in the second when Sean Smith plated Brock Wills with a single, while starting pitcher Dawson Montesa settled in with a pair of scoreless frames to keep the Mountaineers in front.
However, the wheels fell off in the fourth.
After a leadoff homer by Nu’u Contrades tied the game, the Sun Devils loaded the bases and took the lead on a walk. Then Hairston broke the game open when he belted a grand slam on an 0-2 count that pushed Arizona State ahead for good.
WVU chipped away with runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Brodie Kresser doubled in a run, and Kelly added his second RBI of the night on another double. But each time the Mountaineers showed signs of life, the Sun Devils had an answer.
Arizona State tacked on three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to stretch the lead, with Hairston continuing to do damage at the plate. He finished with eight RBIs and two home runs.
Smith finished with three hits for WVU, while Kelly, Kresser and Paul Schoenfeld each had two. Despite the production, the Mountaineers stranded multiple opportunities and couldn’t slow the Sun Devils’ momentum after the fourth inning.
Arizona State added a run in the eighth to end the game early with the 10-run rule, handing WVU its first shortened defeat under the current format.
The Mountaineers will try to bounce back in Game 2 of the series on Saturday, with first pitch set for 9:30 p.m. ET.
Photo credit: WVU Athletics
