JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Brady Wilson’s two-run single gave West Virginia a fourth-inning lead at North Florida and the Mountaineers held on for a 4-3 victory, the first of the season for new coach Randy Mazey.
West Virginia (1-2) salvaged the final game of the weekend behind 13 hits.
Right-hander Dan Dierdorff (1-0) earned the win, inducing three double plays to hold UNF (2-1) to two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Reliever Pascal Paul, who suffered a blown-save loss in Saturday’s matchup, coaxed a first-pitch, inning-ending double play to foil North Florida’s rally in the bottom of the seventh. Paul closed out the game for his first career save, allowing one run.
WVU center fielder Bobby Boyd had three hits and two stolen bases for the Mountaineers, while Wilson also collected three hits. Left fielder Jacob Rice, first baseman Ryan McBroom and second baseman Billy Fleming each recorded two hits apiece.
UNF starter Nick Allbritton (0-1) took the loss, surrendering three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.
WVU continues its 10-game road trip next weekend in Winston-Salem, N.C., by facing Youngstown State on Friday and Saturday and Wake Forest on Saturday and Sunday.