Carr Wins in Debut, West Virginia Takes Opening Series From Jacksonville

The Mountaineer bats supplied just enough offense at just the right times to secure a series-winning victory over Jacksonville Sunday afternoon.

In the rubber match with the Dolphins, West Virginia had another strong starting pitching performance, this time from freshman Jake Carr in his college debut.

Carr pitched five innings of one-run ball, allowing only three hits and one walk. The walk turned into JU’s lone run in the second inning after the runner stole second base and scored on a subsequent single up the middle.

Jacksonville starter Austin Temple kept WVU’s bats quiet until the fourth inning when second baseman Tyler Doanes reached base on a leadoff single. The next batter, freshman Matt McCormick, singled through the right side advancing Doanes to third. Catcher Paul McIntosh then hit into a double play, although Doanes did score to tie the game.

Temple gave up one more run in the sixth when West Virginia hit three straight singles to score the eventual game-winning run. Doanes singled in shortstop Tevin Tucker.

Dillon Meadows replaced Carr in the sixth, pitching two scoreless innings. Zach Ottinger pitched a clean eighth and left fielder Braden Zarbinsky had a perfect ninth to pick up his second save on the young season.

Doanes and Zarbnisky were the only Mountaineers to pick up multiple hits, both going 2-4 with Doanes having the lone RBI and Zarbnisky having a double. Zarbnisky finished the series with a team-leading six hits and 1.2 scoreless innings pitched with two saves.

West Virginia will return to Morgantown and play the earliest home game in program history at Mon County Ballpark Tuesday against Canisius. First pitch will be at 2 p.m.