MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s bullpen tossed five shutout innings, allowed just one hit and struck out six batters as the Mountaineers secured a series split at Georgia State. WVU rallied for a 3-2 win in Sunday’s finale of the four-game set.
“Over the course of a long season, you’re going to play a lot of different games,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “You’re going to play extra-inning games, you’re going to play on the good end of blowouts, you’re going to play on the backend of blowouts, and you’re going to have to play one-run games where you have to close it out on the road. It seems like we covered every scenario in one weekend, so that’s really good experience for us to be in all those games.”
Trailing 2-1 with runners on the corners and one out in the top of the sixth inning, Victor Scott stole second for the Mountaineers. The throw was wild, allowing Paul McIntosh to score from third, tying the game at 2. Scott advanced to third on the play.
As the at bat continued. former Greenbrier East High School standout Mikey Kluska reached on a bunt single. Scott scored to give WVU a 3-2 lead.
Tyler Strechay allowed two runs in four innings in his fifth start as a Mountaineer. Ben Hampton earned the victory in his first appearance at WVU. He pitched three shutout innings and allowed just one hit. Zach Ottinger pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Jacob Watters fanned three batters in the ninth to earn the save.
The Mountaineers took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Matt McCormick scored on a wild pitch. WVU was outhit 5-3 and left ten runners on base.
WVU will return to Morgantown before hitting the road again on Thursday. The Mountaineers (2-2) will play three games over the weekend in Conway, S.C. against Kennesaw State, Coastal Carolina and Bryant.