Georgia State Sweeps Saturday Doubleheader Against West Virginia

West Virginia baseball felt the full spectrum of losses during its Saturday doubleheader against Georgia State on Saturday. Game one was a close, extra-innings heartbreaker, while game two was a blowout that was over after just one frame.

Junior Adam Tulloch toed the rubber in game one for WVU, making his West Virginia debut. The Mountaineers struck first in game one, scoring two runs in the second inning on a triple by center fielder Dom Ragazzo and a single by second baseman Mikey Kluska.

The Panthers tied the game with two runs in the fourth, took the lead with a run in the fifth and grew their lead with two more in the sixth and another in the seventh. Tulloch pitched four innings, working into the fifth. He allowed three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts.

Third baseman Matt McCormick hit a solo home run in the sixth, his second in as many days, to make the score 6-3 heading into the final frame. Down by three runs in the top of the ninth, West Virginia second baseman Tyler Doans drove in pinch-runner Victor Scott to cut the lead to 6-4. After catcher Vince Ippoliti and McCormick were both walked, designated hitter Paul McIntosh reached base on a two-RBI fielding error that tied the game at six. Skylar Gonzalez pitched a clean bottom of the inning to send WVU and GSU into their second straight extra-innings game.

WVU went down in order in the top of the 10th and Georgia State won on a walk-off single to left field after a hit by pitch and an intentional walk. Gonzalez (0-1) took the loss.

Game two was much less dramatic, as the Panthers put up 11 runs in the first inning. WVU starter Jake Carr allowed 10 earned runs on seven hits with a walk and two hit batters. Carr only lasted 2/3 of an inning before Trevor Sharp was brought on in relief.

GSU tacked on five more runs in the third before West Virginia finally got on the board in the top of the fourth on a single by McIntosh. WVU scored two more in the fifth and another in the ninth but dropped the nightcap by a final score of 20-4.

Ragazzo finished the day with four hits, a triple, one RBI and one run scored. McIntosh had three RBI. Carr (0-1) was credited with the loss.

WVU and GSU will play the finale of their four-game series Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for noon. WVU’s Tyler Strechay will start opposite Georgia State’s Chad Treadway.