Mountaineers strike early to level series at Wilmington

West Virginia catcher Cameron O’Brien tags out UNC Wilmington’s Drew Farber after a throw from left fielder Jacob Rice.

 

WILMINGTON, N.C. — West Virginia’s bats, quieted the previous night in a 10-inning loss, exploded for eight early runs Saturday during a 9-3 victory over UNC Wilmington that evened the series.

Billy Fleming and Bobby Boyd each went 3-for-5 as the Mountaineers (12-7) pounded out 10 hits and drew seven walks. Ryan McBroom also drove in two runs, stretching his team-leading total to 25.

WVU’s Sean Carley (4-0) received the kind of run support Harrison Musgrave didn’t get on Friday. The big right-hander exercised damage control throughout much of a six-inning start, allowing three runs—two earned—on nine hits and three walks.

Fleming’s groundout scored Munden to make it 1-0 in West Virginia’s first at-bat and Boyd later scored on McBroom’s sacrifice fly to center.

The Mountaineers blew open the game with a six-run second inning, scoring the first run without having to swing the bat. UNCW starter Jordan Ramsey (0-2) hit three batters and issued a bases-loaded walk to Munden.

Boyd’s two-run single and Fleming’s RBI double made it 6-0, before McBroom’s infield single scored another run.

Ramsey was tagged for eight runs, seven earned, on three hits and two walks in just 1 1/3 innings.

A dropped fly ball in center by Boyd gave UNCW its first run, but left fielder Jacob Rice threw out two Seahawks at the plate—one in the second inning and another in the sixth—to help Carley escape jams.

Junior designated hitter Brad Johnson drove in his first career run with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth.

Senior Ryan Tezak picked up his first save of the year, pitching three no-hit innings with three strikeouts in relief of Carley.

Robbie Thorburn and Luke Dunlap had two hits each for the Seahawks (10-11).

The rubber game is Sunday with an adjusted start time of 11 a.m. because of impending weather.







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