Mountaineers Comeback Falls Short 6-2 Against Georgia Southern

West Virginia lost their second game of the season 6-2 at Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon.

West Virginia fifth year starter Blake Traxel had a decent outing, allowing just one earned run across five innings, but a pair of unearned runs from defensive miscues sank him and the Mountaineers.

Eagles’ pitcher Ben Johnson struggled with control in the first inning, plunking a batter and walking two—including a free pass with the bases loaded, good for a 1-0 Mountaineers lead. 

Both teams hit a number of fly balls that seemed dangerous off the bat, but a persistent northeastern wind knocked them down safely short of the wall.

Georgia Southern drew even in the third inning with two on and two out, courtesy of a throwing error by second baseman JJ Wetherholt. 

The Mountaineers put a pair of runners on with no outs in the fourth, but a strikeout and a double play sent them home empty handed. 

A pair of Eagles scored in the fifth via a sacrifice fly and a fielding error by first baseman Grant Hussey, putting Georgia Southern ahead 3-1.

The Eagles’ got into West Virginia’s bullpen in the sixth and promptly doubled their score. Freshman right-hander Robby Porco entered and issued three walks, one erased on a caught stealing by catcher Logan Suave. Junior Carlson Reed took over to help him clean up, but allowed a pair of singles—scoring three runs to make it 6-1—before an inning-ending double play.

The Mountaineers put a runner on third in the seventh and eighth innings, but couldn’t bring them around to score. 

West Virginia got one back in the ninth. Catcher Logan Suave singled and Tyler Cox stroked a pinch-hit double. Sauve came around to score on a passed ball, making it 6-2. A pair of walks loaded the bases, bringing senior Kevin Dowdell to the plate as the tying run. 

Georgia Southern opted for a pitching change, bringing senior lefty Jay Thompson in to secure the final out. Thompson struck out Dowdell to secure the win.

The Mountaineers, now 0-2 on the season, will play to avoid the sweep on Sunday, February 19, with the first pitch slated for 1pm.