JJ Wetherholt’s Return Powers WVU Baseball 14-2 Over PSU for Fifth Straight Win

WVU obliterated Penn State 14-2 at home on Tuesday to split the season series. 

The Mountaineers hit grand slams in back to back innings, while their pitching (in what was essentially a bullpen game) limited the Nittany Lions to three hits. Designated hitter JJ Wetherholt batted in five runs in his first start since an April 15 hand injury as No. 18 West Virginia won their fifth game in a row. 

After two slow innings to begin the game, center fielder Braden Barry and third baseman Sam White hit consecutive singles in the third. Shortstop Tevin Tucker walked to juice the bases, and Wetherholt brought them all home, making it 4-0 with a grand slam.

HE IS SO BACK!!

GRAND SLAM JJ WETHERHOLT!!!#HailWV | @jj_wetherholt pic.twitter.com/6Ueu0WQwN2

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 25, 2023

Penn State got one back the next inning.

Shortstop Jay Harry singled to start the rally, and third baseman Grant Norris doubled to score him with no outs. West Virginia managed to prevent him from scoring, nailing him at the plate on an error thanks to a quick relay from left fielder Landon Wallace to Tucker, who turned and fired to catcher Dayne Leonard for the out.

Doubling Down on Dominance 

The Mountaineers tripled their score in the bottom of the fourth. Barry, White and Tucker loaded the bases again, with Wetherholt hitting a deep fly ball. He just missed on his second homer of the game, though, settling for a sacrifice fly RBI. Wallace walked to fill the bases, and right fielder Caleb McNeely brought two home with a single. Leonard wore a pitch to re-load the bases, and third baseman Ellis Garcia beat out a throw from short for an infield hit and an RBI. First baseman Grant Hussey blew the game open with West Virginia’s second grand slam of the game, stretching the lead to 12-1.

A GRANT SLAM!!!!

Hussey with the grand slam ✌️ on the night for the Mountaineers!!#HailWV | @Grant_Hussey616 pic.twitter.com/grpISM8oqV

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 26, 2023

Wetherholt tripled with two outs in the fifth, coming around to score on a single from Wallace. 

Penn State designated hitter Bobby Marsh hit a solo shot in the sixth to make it 13-2.

Catcher Logan Sauve hit a pinch-hit homer for Leonard to lead off the sixth.

Logan Sauve joins the home run party!!

The Pennsylvania native doing damage against the Nittany Lions!#HailWV | @SauveLogan pic.twitter.com/2lua07ajUy

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 26, 2023

True freshman Skylar King entered in the seventh for Wallace to get a chance at some game action, and ended up making a magnificent diving catch in the eighth.

Skylar King providing the defensive highlight of the night! 👏 👏 #HailWV | @iamskylarking pic.twitter.com/Q9ODXS6JvX

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 26, 2023

Carlson Reed struck out the side in the ninth to secure the blowout win.

WVU Baseball moves to 30-11 on the season. They head to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears this weekend, with the first game starting at 7:30pm on Friday.