WVU Baseball Implodes, Loses 11-6 to Penn State

WVU Baseball fell to the Penn State Nittany Lions 11-6 on Tuesday, April 11.

After a rebound victory on Sunday, West Virginia’s pitching struggled again. The Mountaineers led for much of the game, but a seven-run, error-ridden sixth inning was too much for them to overcome.

Second baseman JJ Wetherholt opened the first with a double. Left fielder Landon Wallace hit an opposite field to open a one-run lead in the first.

Center fielder Braden Barry and third baseman Sam White hit back-to-back singles in the second. Designated hitter Logan Sauve reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Barry, then came around to score himself on a wild pitch that made it 3-0.

The Mountaineers loaded the bases in the third on a walk, single and hit by pitch, before Barry reached on a fielder’s choice to score another run. 

Each team plated a run in the fourth to make it 5-1: West Virginia on a sacrifice fly, Penn State on a double with runners at the corners. 

Shortstop Tevin Tucker hit a one-out double in the sixth, moving to third on an error. Wetherholt lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 6-1.

Penn State Picks It Up

Penn State batted around in the bottom of the frame. A single, a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, prompting head coach Randy Mazey to sub Noah Short in for Keegan Allen. 

Nittany Lions third baseman Grant Norris scored a pair with a double, before another hit batter loaded the bases again. Mazey pulled Short for Cole Fehrman, who walked in another run. Two Mountaineers’ errors turned a single into a little league home run as the Nittany Lions opened an 8-6 lead.

LITTLE LEAGUE HOMER!!! Kyle Hannon with a grounder down the right line and errors bring home everyone!

B6 | PSU 8, WVU 6#WeAre pic.twitter.com/8QWNIFkeOu

— Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) April 12, 2023

West Virginia put runners at the corners with one out in the seventh, but a strikeout and a groundout killed the rally.

Penn State shortstop Jay Harry led off the seventh with a home run. Pitcher Aidan Major almost escaped the inning after two strikeouts and a ground ball, but a fielding error by first baseman Grant Hussey allowed another run to score. 

Steven Miller took the mound for Penn State in the ninth, striking out the side in the heart of West Virginia’s order to secure the victory.

WVU Baseball falls to 23-10 on the season. The Mountaineers head to Oklahoma State this weekend, beginning at 7pm Friday.