WVU’s Bullpen Comes Up Short in 10-5 Loss to Coastal Carolina

Coastal Carolina scored two runs in the seventh to take the lead and three more in the eighth to secure it as the Chanticleers defeated West Virginia 10-5 Saturday afternoon. West Virginia (3-3) mustered just one extra-base hit while CCU (4-2) smacked four home runs en route to the victory.

WVU junior Adam Tulloch (0-0, 7.07 ERA) started on the mound for the Mountaineers and allowed five runs, four earned, across five innings of work with 10 strikeouts. Coastal Carolina scratched a run across in the first on Tulloch, taking advantage of a hit by pitch, stolen base and an error by shortstop Mikey Kluska.

CCU designated hitter Alex Gattinelli and catcher BT Riopelle hit back-to-back solo home runs off Tulloch in the bottom of the fourth. WVU responded with three runs in the top of the fifth on RBI hits by first baseman Matt McCormick, catcher Vince Ippoliti and center fielder Victor Scott. However, CCU came back with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 5.

After five innings, Tulloch gave way to Zach Ottinger out of the WVU bullpen. Ottinger pitched a scoreless sixth but was tagged for two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Madison Jeffery allowed three runs in the eighth and CCU cruised to a 10-5 win. Ottinger took the loss and Coastal reliever Shaddon Peavyhouse got the win.

WVU will play one more game in South Carolina this weekend, against Bryant tomorrow at 11 a.m.