MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Michael Grove stuck out eight and stymied Jacksonville into the eighth inning as West Virginia took the first game of a doubleheader 8-1 on Saturday to clinch the weekend series.
The Dolphins avoided a sweep by salvaging the second game 8-2.
In front of 2,084 fans at Monongalia County Ballpark, Grove (2-1) produced his best start of the season by allowing one run on five hits over 7 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter.
Jackson Cramer hit a solo shot in the fifth inning, his fourth of the year, and Chase Illig added his second home run.
Sophomore right fielder Darius Hill had three RBIs including a two-run double in the first inning off Dolphins starter Chris Gau (2-3).
In the series finale, West Virginia’s Conner Dotson (3-3) surrendered four runs before being lifted in the second inning. Touched up for six hits and a walk while throwing only 50 pitches, Dotson’s ERA climbed to 6.52.
Casey Kulina (2-0) fanned 11 over six innings and held the Mountaineers to two runs.
“Doubleheaders are such a beating,” West Virginia coach Randy Mazey said. “At 5:30 this afternoon we were up 8-1 and as soon as that game ended they made up a seven-run deficit. The score goes to 0-0, they catch life and come out swinging the bats, and that’s why every coach in the world tries to avoid doubleheaders at all cost because the team that loses the first game has the momentum going into the second game just cause they tied it up.
“They came out swinging, you have to give them credit. They hit one of our best pitchers and they earned that one. We struck out 13 times in that second game, so hats off to them. They earned that one.”
Jacksonville’s finished the weekend at 12-14. West Virginia is 12-9 and will visit Pitt on Tuesday.