WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – West Virginia’s bats got off to another fast start, providing more than enough padding for starter Kade Strowd in a 12-2 series-clinching win at William & Mary.
Strowd (2-1) went seven innings for the win, striking out eight while giving up two runs on three hits. He also had all the scoring he needed by the end of the second inning as the Mountaineers put up three early runs.
“(Kade) attacked the strike zone like he does and gave us a chance to have some short innings on defense and long innings on offense,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “Our offense is starting to click a little bit right now, and the longer we can stay at bat the better off we are.”
Kevin Brophy broke the game open in the fifth, clubbing a three-run homer. Brophy added a fourth RBI when he drew a bases-loaded walk in a six-run eighth inning.
Not to be outdone, Paul McIntosh added a solo shot in the eighth. Brophy and McIntosh remain tied for the team lead with four home runs this season.
Once again, Tyler Doanes set the tone at the top of the order, going 3-for-5 with two doubles. Doanes is now batting .333 to lead the team.
No. 9 hitter Tevin Tucker was part of the offensive onslaught, too, finishing the game with three RBI. Tucker plated runs with a double and a perfectly placed suicide squeeze bunt.
The Mountaineers (12-7) chased William & Mary (13-4) starter Jacob Haney (2-1) from the game in the fifth.
West Virginia returns to Monongalia County Ballpark for a Tuesday afternoon game against Youngstown State before heading to Baylor to open Big 12 play next weekend.