WVU Baseball Sweeps Utah, Winning Streak Hits 7

WVU Baseball swept the doubleheader and their series with Utah on Saturday, April 5, narrowly surviving the Utes 6-4 in game one before bringing out the fireworks in the nightcap with a 14-4 run rule win.

Brodie Kresser knocked in four runs during the first game, including a three-run homer in the second inning to put West Virginia (27-4, 7-3 Big 12) ahead 4-1. Kresser (who picked up six hits on the day) logged an RBI double in the fourth and finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.

First baseman Cameron Gurney closed the Utes’ deficit to 5-4 in the fifth with a two-run single, allowed by reliever Reese Bassinger but charged to Mountaineers’ starter Gavin Van Kempen, who allowed four runs in 4.1 innings. Bassinger went on to finish the game: Gavin Kelly tacked on some insurance with a seventh inning sacrifice fly, but the stalwart right-hander kept the Utes off the board, including working around a fielding error and a double in the eighth.

WVU Baseball Pours it On

West Virginia leapt out to a 4-1 lead in the second inning of game two, Grant Hussey kicking things off with a solo homer on an 0-2 pitch. After a pair of walks, Kresser reached on an error to keep the inning alive, and Skylar King added a two-run single.

The Mountaineers batted around the lineup in the fourth, scoring five runs with the help of three extra base hits. Armani Guzman led off the frame with a triple, King knocked in two runs with a three-bagger of his own, and Jace Rinehart doubled in another run. After an RBI single from Hussey, West Virginia’s lead stretched to 10-4.

A brief weather delay occurred at the end of the sixth inning, short enough it allowed reliever Jack Kartsonas — who fanned six batters in 3.1 innings — to remain in the game for another frame. Kelly hit a little league home run in the eighth… but unfortunately, the Mountaineers’ offense wasn’t the only one pouring it on as another weather delay dragged out Utah’s demise.

Three slides on one play is 𝘾𝙍𝘼𝙕𝙔!@gavin_kelly18 is an electric factory! pic.twitter.com/5eLH1dfJfa

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 5, 2025

Yet another Utes’ error made it 14-4, triggering the run rule.

Up next, WVU Baseball will host Penn State beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8.