Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Tyrus Hall blasted a grand slam and Chansen Cole struck out 11 as West Virginia rolled past Cal Poly 12-2 on Friday afternoon, moving within one win of the program’s first-ever trip to the College World Series.
Sean Smith had three hits and three RBIs for the Mountaineers (44-15). Hall finished with five RBIs and two hits while Brodie Kresser, Matthew Graveline, and Armani Guzman each had two hits.
Cole (10-1) tossed seven innings and surrendered two runs on eight hits while striking out 11. Reese Bassinger and Carson Estridge each pitched scoreless innings.
Griffin Naess (8-5) took the loss for the Mustangs (39-23). He gave up eight runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
WVU took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a three-run blast from Smith.
In the second, Cole gave up a leadoff double to Cam Hoiland but struck out the side to end the inning.
Dylan Kordic’s home run cut the deficit 3-1 in the fourth before Kresser delivered an RBI single and Hall launched a grand slam in the bottom of the frame to push the lead to 8-1.
Cal Poly picked up a run in the seventh but WVU responded again in the bottom of the inning. Ben Lumsden continued his hot streak with a double, scoring Graveline and Matt Ineich. Hall’s sacrifice fly scored Brodie Kresser from third and extended the lead to 11-2.
The Mountaineers added on another run in the eighth to take a 12-2 advantage.
WVU can punch its ticket to Omaha for the first time in program history when the teams meet again Saturday at noon.
Photo credit: WVU Athletics
