CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An early power surge from 15th-ranked West Virginia left Marshall in a tough spot Tuesday night at GoMart Ballpark.
Combined with the pitching prowess of Mountaineer midweek starter David Hagen, there would be no Thundering Herd rally in the third and final contest between the in-state rivals this season.
The Mountaineers got two home runs from Gavin Kelly among three as a team, and Hagen allowed one run over a career high five innings to lead the way in a 7-2 victory.
“Hagen had his best outing, probably of his career,” WVU coach Steve Sabins said. “He hadn’t gone more than three innings all season, so he got over a big hump. In practice, his sim game was really good and we felt like we found something, and he was able to carry that over to the game. To go five innings is kind of what we expect. He’s a prototypical starter. It should be a three or four pitch mix with good stuff, so very proud of him.”
The result gives West Virginia (32-12) a fourth straight victory and a season sweep of Marshall, which fell to 21-27.
FINAL: No. 15 West Virginia 7, Marshall 2
Gavin Kelly hit two home runs, Matt Iniech added one and David Hagen pitched 5 innings with one run allowed to help WVU (32-12) sweep the season series.
Herd fall to 21-27. pic.twitter.com/OYxfbweAB0
— Greg Carey (@gcarey938) May 6, 2026
Kelly’s first home run of the night and ninth this season traveled 398 feet to left field and allowed West Virginia to lead 1-0 in the home half of the first inning.
It also marked the first of four straight Mountaineers to reach, a stretch that ended with Matthew Graveline’s single that brought in the team’s second run.
“We had a good really good weekend, so the momentum and confidence was there and it carried over early on. When your best player has two home runs and is catching and throwing guys out, that momentum kind of continues,” Sabins said.
Hagen retired the Herd in order for a second straight inning, and directly after Tyrus Hall was caught stealing, Matt Ineich hit a 406-foot solo shot off Doll to make it 3-0.
That marked the end of Doll’s outing, but Marshall reliever Peyton Jackson was greeted by Kelly’s team-leading 10th home run this season that traveled 415 feet and gave the Mountaineers’ most productive hitter this season four home runs over the last three games.
“I always have the confidence. I always knew what I could do,” Kelly said. “It’s just going up there and trying to execute the plan to the best of my ability.”
Marshall generated its first baserunner in the fourth when Evan Bottone doubled to right. Following a Tyler Kamerer single, Jackson Halter’s fly ball to center was plenty deep enough to plate Bottone with a sacrifice fly that made it 4-1.
Marshall stranded two in the fourth and ended its half of the fifth with Jack Smith’s ground ball to shortstop that amounted to a double play. It was Hagen’s 62nd and final pitch and one that lowered his season ERA to 4.13.
“It kind of all revolved around fastball command and attacking in the zone,” Hagen said. “Everything played off of that. They attacked early in counts. If I can get weak contact early in the count, I’m going to keep throwing the fastball in there.”
WVU added to its lead in the fifth after drawing three separate base-on-balls among four batters and getting a run-scoring groundout from pinch-hitter Zahir Barjam.
Left-handed reliever Ben McDougal worked a scoreless sixth for WVU and the Mountaineers gained a 6-1 lead when they came to bat that inning after Sean Smith singled with two outs to score Ineich from second after he’d led off with a double.
Ethan Murdoch’s home run to start the seventh provided MU with its second run, while the Mountaineers scored their seventh on a Schoenfeld sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Reese Bassinger and JT Huether each worked one scoreless inning in the win.
With three home runs Tuesday, West Virginia has eight of its 35 for the season over the last three contests.
“The confidence is growing on the team,” Kelly said. “Everyone is grooving and vibing together. The energy is great and we’re playing good ball.”
Doll surrendered four of West Virginia’s nine hits as well as three runs over 1.2 innings.
“The at bats were just really good,” Sabins said. “Their starting pitcher was at 40 pitches in the first inning and that’s probably the most for anybody against us this season. We stretched him out really good and had quality at bats.”
Blaine Albright and Hunter Richardson worked a scoreless inning apiece in the loss. Marshall’s four other pitchers outside of Doll all allowed one run.
Bottone had two of the five Herd hits and drew a walk.
WVU is back in action Friday when it begins a three-game series at Big 12 Conference leader Kansas (37-12, 20-4). The Mountaineers enter the weekend tied with Arizona State for second place in the league at 16-8.