WVU Baseball Sees Unbeaten Start End in 9th Inning Meltdown

It was going to happen for WVU Baseball at some point.

A back and forth game between the Mountaineers (13-1) and Kennesaw State ended in a 13-9 defeat on Saturday, March 8. The Owls scored six runs in the ninth inning, erasing a 9-7 deficit just four pitches in after a fielding error and a home run on consecutive pitches from graduate right-hander Jack Kartsonas.

Kartsonas rebounded for two quick outs, then head coach Steve Sabins gave him the hook in favor of Reese Bassinger after an infield single. After a hit by pitch, the Mountaineers opted to intentionally walk Owls’ center fielder Chris Cole in order to get a right-on-right matchup against designated hitter Donovan Cash. The move backfired on the following pitch, which Cash clubbed over the left-field wall for a grand slam.

Although Sam White hit a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth, West Virginia couldn’t muster a response.

Kennesaw State took a 4-1 lead early, the lone Mountaineers’ run coming on a solo homer from catcher Logan Sauve. West Virginia snatched the lead back with five runs in the bottom of the third, but the advantage didn’t last long after the Owls plated two more runs the following inning.

White, who ended the day with three hits, made it 8-7 with a seventh inning sacrifice fly, then Jace Rinehart reached on a fielders’ choice turned throwing error to scratch across another run… but the Mountaineers couldn’t maintain the lead.

WVU Baseball will be back in action for the series finale at 12 p.m. on Sunday, March 9.