Mountaineers Beat Golden Flashes in Game One

The West Virginia Mountaineers (7-5) take game one of a doubleheader over the Kent State Golden Flashes (4-8) 6-2.

West Virginia showed off their defense to start the game. Second baseman Tyler Doanes was cheating towards the middle after Greg Lewandowski reach on a single and was attempting to steal second, Doanes snagged a grounder up the middle tagged second and made the throw to first. Starting pitcher Alek Manoah got out of the inning popping up Pavin Parks to left field.

In the top of the third, Darius Hill gunned down Josh Hollander from right field trying to turn a single into a double.

Hill broke the scoreless game in the sixth with a two-run triple. Tyler Doanes led the inning off with a heads up play on the base pads. Doanes hit a grounder to the shortstop Grant Vera but the throw pulled first baseman Alex Ronnebaum down the line and Doanes dove under the tag to reach first base.

Ivan Gonzalez drew a walk before Darius Hill hit a triple down the right field line bringing in Doanes and Gonzalez giving WVU a 2-0 lead.

Alek Manoah had 11 strikeouts heading into the eighth inning, but the Golden Flashes started to get Manoah’s timing down.

Designated hitter Patrick Ferguson started the eight with a solo shot over the left field bullpen. Nick Elsen singled reached first with a grounder into left field and Alex Ronnebaum singled through the gap on the right side. Hollander advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt down the third baseline.

Kian O’Brien cut the West Virginia lead to one on a sacrifice fly to left field bringing in Elsen.

West Virginia head coach would go to his bullpen and bring Sam Kessler to the mound to finish out the inning and he delivered with a strikeout.

The Mountaineers responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Andrew Zitel singled into right field, then stole second and advanced to third on an overthrow to second base.

Kevin Brophy drew a walk and with runners on first and second, Paul McIntosh hit a line drive to centerfield for a base hit and Zitel crossed home plate.

Brandon White singled up the middle and with two throwing errors by Kent State would clear the bases and put White at third, giving the Mountaineers the four-point advantage.

Tristan Hudson took the mound in the ninth and closed the game out.

West Virginia plays game two of the doubleheader Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:10.