Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Gavin Kelly’s two-run homer in the ninth inning helped No. 15 West Virginia pull away for a 5-2 win over No. 7 Kansas on Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark, clinching the series for the Mountaineers.
Matthew Graveline had three hits for WVU (34-12, 18-8 Big 12).
Ian Korn (4-0) got the win for the Mountaineers, pitching four scoreless innings. He came on in relief of Chansen Cole, who went five innings and gave up two runs on four hits.
Riane Ritter took the loss for the Jayhawks (37-14, 20-6).
In the first inning, Paul Schoenfeld gave WVU a 1-0 lead on a solo home run. It was his third of the season and came in front of his family.
The lead didn’t last long as Tyson Leblanc hit a bomb down the left field line to tie the game at 1-1.
The Mountaineers retook the lead in the second on Brodie Kresser’s sacrifice fly.
Kansas tied the game in the fifth on Josh Dykhoff’s in-the-park home run.
In the eighth, Sean Smith scored on Kresser’s base hit to give WVU the lead. In the ninth, Kelly added insurance with a two-run homer to make it 5-2.
Korn pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to secure the series win.
The two teams square off for the finale on Sunday afternoon.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
