Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Columbia used a five-run second inning to take control and held off No. 23 West Virginia for a 7–4 win in the series opener Friday afternoon at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
The Mountaineers fell to 8-3 on the season while the Lions improved to 2-5.
WVU was limited to five hits on the day, with no player recording more than one. Brodie Kresser scored twice to lead the Mountaineers, while Gavin Kelly and Tyrus Hall each drove in a run.
Columbia broke the game open early, scoring five runs in the second inning on five hits and two walks to take a 5-0 lead. The Lions added another run in the fifth to stretch the advantage to six.
WVU began to chip away in the bottom of the fifth. A groundout and a Columbia error allowed the Mountaineers to get on the board. Armani Guzman later scored on a wild pitch in the sixth before Kelly delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-4.
The Lions responded with an insurance run in the ninth. Brock Wills opened the bottom of the inning with a triple, but WVU couldn’t capitalize.
Junior Dawson Montesa took the loss after allowing five runs in four innings while striking out five. Ian Korn pitched three innings of relief, giving up one run and striking out three, and Reeser Bassinger allowed one run over the final two innings.
The Mountaineers will look to bounce back and even the series when the teams meet again Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
