MORGANTOWN — One game after his 13-game hitting streak ended, J.J. Wetherholt is back to hitting again.
The WVU second baseman went 5 for 6 Tuesday and drove in six runs to lead the Mountaineers to a crushing 18-1 victory against Appalachian State at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, N.C.
WVU (11-4) recorded its largest margin of victory on the season and won its fifth consecutive game behind an offense that provided 15 hits and went 10 for 20 with runners in scoring position.
As for Wetherholt, he rebounded well after his streak ended Sunday against Minnesota.
He had run-scoring singles in the third and fourth innings, before a bases-loaded double in the fifth that scored three more.
He doubled again in the seventh inning for his sixth RBI to help give WVU a 16-1 advantage. He led off the ninth inning with another single to bring his batting average up to .484, which is tops in the Big 12.
Carson Estridge (1-0) picked up his first win of the season in relief. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out three.
Aidan Major started for WVU and pitched four no-hit innings before being relieved. He gave up one run on two walks and a wild pitch and struck out five.
Ellis Garcia added three hits for WVU, which faces Appalachian State (8-6) again at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Garcia had three singles and a sacrifice RBI that helped him finish with four RBIs on the day.
Dayne Leonard, Caleb McNeely, Grant Hussey and Tevin Tucker each drove in two more runs.
Tre Keels came off the bench to hit the Mountaineers’ third double of the game in the sixth inning.
Trey Tujetsch (0-3) took the loss for Appalachian State. He gave up four hits and four runs over three innings.
Freshman Gavin Van Kempen will get the start on the mound Wednesday for WVU.
