MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia baseball team used a three-run eighth inning to help it earn a 7-6 win over Miami (Ohio) on Friday night at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Trailing, 5-4, the Mountaineers recorded a pair of run-producing singles by junior outfielder Austin Davis and sophomore catcher/infielder Matt McCormick to take the late lead. WVU finished with seven runs on 11 hits with three errors, while the RedHawks tallied six runs on nine hits with one error.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Skylar Gonzalez was credited with the win, his first of the year, while junior right-hander Madison Jeffrey was able to lock down his fourth save of 2021. Miami’s Kevin Napoleon took the loss.
“The arms that this Miami team is running out there, that’s as good of a pitching staff as we’ll see all year,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “There have some really good arms in that dugout.”
West Virginia (19-23) took a quick, 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when McCormick blasted a two-run homer to right field. It marked his seventh of the campaign, good for a tie for No. 1 on the club.
After Miami (21-23) cut the deficit in half in the third, WVU tallied a run in the third and fourth to take a 4-1 lead. In the third, a RedHawk throwing error allowed a run to score, before freshman infielder/designated hitter Nathan Blasick smashed a solo shot to right center in the fourth.
In the fifth, MU made it a 4-2 game, thanks to a sacrifice fly.
Senior left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf got the start on the mound for WVU on Friday night. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in 6.2 innings of work. The Gahanna, Ohio, was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the second without yielding any runs.
“One thing Jackson has done in the last couple months is not give up any rebound runs,” Mazey said. “Especially at home, if you can throw up a two-spot in an inning, and he can put up a zero, that’s a huge advantage.”
Following Wolf’s exit, the Mountaineers allowed three runs in the top of the eighth, which gave the RedHawks a 5-4 lead. That’s when the hosts rallied, scoring three of its own in the bottom half of the frame.
First, Davis hit an RBI single to left, moments before McCormick put West Virginia back on top with a two-run single up the middle. The Orland Park, Illinois, native finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored in the win.
Jeffrey allowed a run in the ninth but was able to get two big outs to end the game. With a runner on third and only one down, the hard-throwing righty got a strikeout and fly out to slam the door on the series-opening victory.
Along with McCormick, Davis finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored, while sophomore outfielder Victor Scott showcased a 2-for-4 night.
Friday’s game was the first between WVU and Miami since Feb. 25, 2011. It also marked the RedHawks’ first-ever game in Morgantown.
Next up, the two teams finish their two-game series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. Sunday’s game was canceled due to an adjustment in Miami’s schedule.
Doubleheader added in Sunday’s open spot
West Virginia has added two games against Dayton on Sunday in response to the Miami game being canceled.
The doubleheader is scheduled for noon with Game 2 set to begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game 1. Both games are scheduled for seven innings.
TWEET @dompostsports
