WVU Baseball Blows Four Run Lead Late, Loses 6-5

WVU Baseball blew a late four run lead on Sunday, falling 6-5 to the Charlotte 49ers as their pitching woes continued.

Mountaineers’ starter Carson Estridge went five innings on 81 pitches, striking out three and allowing one run, but late bullpen struggles and defensive lapses helped the 49ers steal a win.

Right fielder Ben Lumsden began the second inning with a four pitch walk. Shortstop Ellis Garcia singled, then both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Grant Hussey, setting the table for designated hitter Kyle West’s two-run single.

Center fielder Skylar King singled to open the third inning, then stole second and third.

Left fielder Sam White grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Charlotte first baseman Juan Correa beat King with his throw home, preventing the Mountaineers from tacking on another run. 

49ers third baseman Noah Furcht singled in the fourth, advancing on a groundout before taking third on a wild pitch from Estridge. Designated hitter Rene Lastres singled, cutting West Virginia’s lead to 2-1.

Small ball success continued the next inning, when Mountaineers’ freshman Spencer Barnett hit a single, stealing second before catcher Logan Sauve singled him home.

Bullpen Enters the Picture

Estridge walked the leadoff batter in the sixth, prompting head coach Randy Mazey to pull him for Hambleton Oliver. Oliver allowed a single, and the runners moved into scoring position on a groundout before he worked a full count strikeout of Lastres to end the inning.

West and Reed Chumley singled in the seventh. A bunt moved them over, and King singled them in to make it 5-1.

Two walks and a hit batter allowed Charlotte to load the bases in the eighth, with a single and a fielder’s choice making it a two-run game. Another hit batter juiced the bases again, and 49ers center fielder Johnny Sutryk cleared them with a sun-assisted triple to go ahead 6-5.

WVU Baseball falls to 4-4 on the season. Up next is their home opener against the Canisius Golden Griffins, which will begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28.