WVU Baseball, Dawson Montesa Roll Over Kennesaw State

WVU Baseball dominated Kennesaw State in their series opener on Friday, Feb. 27, rolling to a 12-4 win behind three-hit nights from Matt Ineich, Gavin Kelly and Paul Schoenfeld. West Virginia (7-1) racked up 16 hits, six walks and three steals on the day.

Brock Wills homered for the second game in a row and starting pitcher Dawson Montesa churned through seven innings on 101 pitches, fanning 11 batters and allowing just one run. Montesa struck out the side in the first inning, making a statement on the road; Owls’ starter Cooper McMullen retired the first six batters he faced, then Wills jumped on him for a leadoff homer in the third, sparking a six run inning that saw the first nine West Virginia batters reach.

Kennesaw State didn’t manage an out until the Mountaineers attempted a double steal, Owls’ shortstop Shamaar McDuffie diagnosing the play fast enough to fire a throw home. Montesa faced the minimum through 3.2 innings, erasing one runner with a double play ball. Catcher Matthew Graveline wiped away another with a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out play to end the second.

The Owls got to Montesa in the seventh with a solo home run, but doubles from pinch-hitter Ben Lumsden and Schoenfeld helped West Virginia keep their distance, tacking on four more runs in the top of the eighth.

Up next, WVU Baseball will continue their series with Kennesaw State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28.