WVU Baseball Dismantled in 23-1 Home Backyard Brawl Loss

WVU Baseball suffered a 23-1 loss to Pitt on Tuesday, April 21, allowing the rival Panthers to open a 19-run lead over the first four innings on the way to a run rule victory.

Mountaineers (27-10) pitcher Bryson Thacker got the start and allowed three home runs across 1.1 innings, a three-run blast from A.J. Nessler chasing him from the game. Bryant Yoak loaded the bases and David Hagen walked a batter in, then West Virginia started to spiral. Hagen threw a wild pitch and catcher Matt Graveline committed a throwing error trying to salvage the play: each miscue allowed another Panthers’ run to cross.

Eight more runs crossed the following frame, a three-run homer, two hit batters and a bases loaded walk; a two-run single pushed the deficit to 16-0.

West Virginia loaded the bases in the second and put two aboard in the third but couldn’t cut into the Panthers’ momentum at any point.

Pitt continued to apply heavy pressure throughout, silencing Kendrick Family Ballpark on the way to the abbreviated seventh inning finish.

WVU Baseball will return to action at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 24 at Cincinnati.