By: Shanna Rose
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–The West Virginia University baseball team suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 13-9 decision to Kennesaw State, Saturday afternoon at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Logan Sauve had two hits and drove in two runs and scored three runs, including his first home run of the season. Sam White had three hits and three RBI. Jace Rinehart drove in three runs for the Mountaineers (13-1).
The Owls (6-10) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Donovan Cash doubled up the middle, scoring Chris Cole and Nate Anderson.
In the bottom of the frame, Sauve hit a 385-foot blast over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Kennesaw State tacked on two runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead.
However, WVU wasn’t going to go down without a fight. In the bottom half, the Mountaineers scored five runs on four hits. Grant Hussey led off the inning with a base hit to right field and advanced to third on Armani Guzman’s single through the right side. Hussey scored when Sauve was issued a bases-loaded walk.
Sam White’s single plated Brodie Kresser and Guzman and Sauve scored on Jace Rinehart’s groundout. Skylar King’s sacrifice fly gave WVU a 6-4 lead.
In the top of the fourth the Owls tied the game 6-6 on Jackson Chirello’s base hit.
In the seventh, the Mountaineers retook the lead with two runs as White hit a sacrifice fly followed by a fielder’s choice from Rinehart.
The wheels fell off in the ninth when Kennesaw State scored six runs. The Owls tied the game with a two-run home run to tie the game before hitting a grand slam to take the lead.
The rubber match is slated for Sunday at noon.
Photo Credit: Shanna Rose
