YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Jacob Rice’s two-out ninth-inning single, on the heels of Brady Wilson’s third stolen base of the game, lifted West Virginia to a 7-6 baseball victory at Youngstown State on Wednesday night.
Rice and Wilson each registered three hits as WVU (24-18) claimed the season series over Youngstown State (13-30) in a game that featured seven lead changes.
The win went to Pascal Paul (3-3), who struck out one and walked one in 1/13 innings. Nic Manuppelli (0-2) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in two innings.
Tied 6-6 heading into the ninth inning, Wilson knocked a leadoff base hit to center field. After stealing his third base of the evening, he was driven home from second base on a two-out single up the middle by Rice for the game-winning RBI.
Matt Frazer’s sixth-inning single put WVU ahead 4-3, but YSU retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth off Mountaineers reliever Ryan Tezak.
Ryan Tuntland’s RBI single tied the game in the seventh before Wilson scored on a bases-loaded balk for WVU to regain a 6-5 lead.
Youngstown State’s Kevin Hix doubled to knot the game again in the bottom of the seventh.
Both starters earned no-decisions. WVU freshman Brock Dykxhoorn allowed three runs, all unearned, on three hits in 4 1/3 innings. YSU’s Jared Wigh t allowed one run on two hits in four innings
The Mountaineers will host Kansas at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley this weekend. Game 1 begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, with Game 2 slated for 4 p.m. Saturday. The finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
The games will be video streamed on WVUsports.com, while the radio broadcast will be on select affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network, with Morgantown affiliate WAJR 1440 AM serving as the flagship station.