WVU Baseball, Reese Bassinger Outlast Buckeyes 9-6

The WVU baseball team outlasted the Ohio State Buckeyes 9-6 in Columbus on Tuesday, April 1 as their offense exploded in the middle innings. Reese Bassinger contributed 5.1 innings in relief as West Virginia’s pitching staff struggled early, allowing two runs but keeping his team solidly ahead. Bassinger entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth, fanning shortstop Lee Ellis to retire the Buckeyes.

The Mountaineers (23-4, 4-3 Big 12) traded runs with the Buckeyes through the first three innings: Brodie Kresser crossed home thanks to a wild pitch, while Skylar King singled, stole second and scored on another single, this one from Logan Sauve.

West Virginia scored four runs with two outs in the fourth thanks to two-run singles from Spencer Barnett and Sauve. Chase Swain singled home a run in the fifth — an inning highlighted by this spectacular 9-3 double play from right fielder Armani Guzman — then the Mountaineers pushed their lead to 9-4 after loading the bases in the following frame, benefitting from another Buckeyes wild pitch and a Kresser sacrifice fly.

PLAY OF THE YEAR!!#SCTop10 | @mani_ftn pic.twitter.com/cn1nKO8sxg

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 2, 2025

Ohio State threatened in the late innings, scraping across one run apiece in the seventh and eighth, but Bassinger managed to slam the door shut with three quick outs in the ninth.

WVU Baseball returns home for another midweek contest, hosting the rival Pittsburgh Panthers in the basebrawl at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2.