GRANVILLE, W.Va. — Five multi-run innings allowed No. 17 West Virginia to make quick work of Marshall before hitting the road for a critical weekend series at Texas Tech. The Mountaineers defeated the Thundering Herd, 12-2 in eight innings, giving WVU (22-7) their second victory in against MU in their three-game season series.
WVU scored three times in the first and sixth innings and two times each in the second, seventh and eighth innings while collecting 15 hits.
“Tonight, I was really excited about how we played,” said WVU head coach Steve Sabins. “We executed on offense with bunts, with stolen bases. We played really clean defense. We had relay throws. We had plays at the plate. We turned double plays. We had quality PFP. Our at bats were clean. The approach was clean. We were able to get their starting pitcher out of the game early.”
Gavin Kelly led the Mountaineers with three hits and two runs batted in. Matt Ineich, Sean Smith, Armani Guzman and Matthew Graveline all had multi-hit games for WVU. Each batter in WVU’s starting lineup reached base at least once. WVU bounced back after dropping their first Big 12 series last weekend to UCF, losing Sunday’s rubber game.
“It felt awesome to be back to what we do best, having quality at bats and being a relentless offense,” said Kelly. “Guys were feeling good. We got our legs back under us and we got healthy. It was awesome to see, especially going into this weekend.”
Leading 11-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Zahir Barjam delivered a run-scoring single to put the run rule in effect.
“The best part about that at bat is that he didn’t know the game was over,” Sabins said. “He was standing at first base and he saw everybody running at him. I don’t know if there was any additional pressure on him in that moment.”
Four Mountaineer pitchers logged at least one inning. Starter David Hagen allowed one run in two innings. Bridgeport High School graduate Ben McDougal made his first appearance in nearly two months after being sidelined by a forearm injury. He allowed one run before ending the third inning by inducing a 5-4-3 double play.
“I didn’t know if he would pitch the rest of this year. He rehabbed and threw to live hitters multiple times. About four or five days ago, he threw in the [practice facility]. He did well. The velocity was good. I was thinking, face some more hitters and keep going. He was so excited. He said, ‘I am ready to go. I am ready to face Marshall’. So he got cleared and I was like, this guy is hungry, wants to get in there and is confident with his health. We need to just put him in the game.”
An eventful 7th inning for WVU RF Brock Wills:
1. Visits the berm tracking a foul ball
2. Records an outfield assist
3. Delivers an RBI 1B
4. Later scores on a groundoutFun. pic.twitter.com/WS8mDKpa7x
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) April 9, 2026
Ian Korn was credited with the victory after tossing three innings of shutout ball. Carson Estridge finished things out for WVU by pitching shutout frames in the seventh and eighth innings.
The final game of the three-game season series between the Mountaineers and Marshall will be played Tuesday, May 5 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
The Mountaineers will play their third Big 12 road series in Lubbock this weekend. Game 1 against the Red Raiders (19-13, 5-7 Big 12) is set for Friday.
“You just know you are going to face good competition,” said Estridge. “You’ve just got to make sure that you keep your head on straight. You don’t necessarily need to think about that stuff. Because at the end of the day, you are throwing to the catcher.”
Marshall (14-17) starting pitcher Kenyon Collins allowed three runs while retiring just two batters. Cooper Hinson and AJ Harvilla each had two hits for the Herd.