WVU Baseball Shows Their Grit in Doubleheader Sweep

WVU Baseball won both legs of their doubleheader at Georgia Southern on Saturday, Feb. 14, winning 11-10 in the opener thanks to Gavin Kelly’s eighth inning base running before two bases loaded walks in the seventh put them over the top in the night cap.

Catcher/right fielder Matthew Graveline added two home runs and six RBI on the day, including the eventual winner in game two as the Mountaineers completed a three-game sweep.

West Virginia (3-0) opened a seven run lead in the first inning of game one, batting around the order and reaching base six consecutive times with two outs. Georgia Southern chased starter Maxx Yehl from the game after two innings: he loaded the bases with no outs in the second, then committed an error on a potential double play ball that allowed two runs to cross, leading to a four run rally that let the Eagles back in the game.

Division II transfer Ian Korn took over for the third and allowed five runs across four relief innings, taking his lumps in his first action with West Virginia. A two-out home run from Graveline pushed their lead to 10-4 in the fourth, but the Eagles managed to come all the way back on a bases-clearing double in the seventh. Kelly came up with the immediate answer, doubling with one out in the eighth, stealing third and coming home on a throwing error.

Georgia Southern loaded the bases against Carson Estridge in the ninth, but the 6-foot-7 right-hander hung on for the save.

Hanging On For the Sweep

Kelly’s hot swinging continued into game two, which he led off with a first pitch double. Shortstop Matt Ineich worked the count full then blooped a single the opposite way to score Kelly, and Graveline made it 2-0 in the second with another homer.

Mountaineers’ starter Dawson Montesa (6.0 IP, seven strikeouts, 2 ER) allowed two runs in the bottom of the frame but managed to limit the damage in a quality start. West Virginia loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, bringing Graveline to the plate. Georgia Southern gave him nothing to hit, a four-pitch walk allowing him to plate the game-winning run. Left fielder Paul Schoenfield followed that up with another walk, giving the Mountaineers some insurance, then Graveline singled Guzman home for another run in the ninth.

Closer David Perez needed just seven pitches to complete the save, striking out two batters on six pitches and inducing a flyout with the other.

WVU Baseball will return to action at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, facing Liberty in Lynchburg, Va.