Shanna Rose | WV Sport
STATESBORO, Ga.— West Virginia built a seven-run lead in the first inning and held off a furious late rally to edge Georgia Southern 11–10 on Saturday in the opener of a doubleheader at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Mountaineers (2-0) looked in control early, then had to survive a seventh-inning surge and a bases-loaded threat in the ninth to secure the win.
Gavin Kelly, Sean Smith and Matt Ineich each had two hits for WVU. Matthew Graveline drove in three runs, including a home run and Ineich added two RBIs.
The Mountaineers erupted for seven runs in the top of the first. Kelly scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded, Graveline added an RBI groundout, and Paul Schoenfeld delivered a run-scoring single before stealing home as part of a double steal. Ben Lumsden followed with an RBI single, and Ineich capped the inning with a two-run hit to make it 7–0.
Maxx Yehl made his first appearance in more than a year and worked a clean first inning, but the Eagles (0-2) chipped away in the second. After loading the bases with no outs, a fielding error on a comebacker to Yehl made it 7–3. Yehl limited the damage to four runs before Jack Myers’ RBI single brought Georgia Southern within three.
Nico Senese tied the game in the seventh with a three-run double down the left-field line.
WVU regained the lead in the eighth when Kelly scored on a throwing error. Chase Meyer (1–0) earned the win with 1 1/3 hitless innings of relief, striking out three. Carson Estridge recorded the final four outs for his first save, stranding the bases loaded in the ninth.
Ethan Garrett took the loss for the Eagles.
Game two of the doubleheader is scheduled to follow.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
