MORGANTOWN — Playing in the state’s capital, the West Virginia baseball team defeated in-state foe Marshall 11-2 Tuesday evening at Go-Mart Ballpark in Charleston.
The Mountaineers (10-7) have won seven straight games in the series against the Thundering Herd (6-10) and 13 of the teams’ last 14 meetings. The difference on Tuesday was a six-run bottom of the third for WVU which erased and early Marshal advantage.
The Herd got on the board in the top of the first on an RBI groundout by Owen Ayers and a run-scoring double from Gio Ferraro to go up 2-0. That was the only blemish on an otherwise stellar showing by the WVU pitching staff. Two of Marshall’s four total hits came in the top of the first off of WVU starter Tyler Switalski.
Switalski allowed two runs in two innings while striking out three before giving way to one dominant outing after another out of the West Virginia bullpen. Robby Porco got the win, pitching two scoreless innings with three punchouts while Joseph Fredericks, Cole Fehrman, Chase Meyer, Maxx Yehl and Hayden Cooper all contributed a scoreless frame each.
All told, WVU pitchers allowed two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out 16.
WVU’s offense came alive in the bottom of the third as Sam White’s double to centerfield scored two to tie the game 2-2. Benjamin Lumsden’s single scored White to give WVU the lead and Reed Chumley’s three-run home run extended it to 6-2.
West Virginia added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Kyle West solo homer gave the team an 11-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth. Chumley (Houston Christian) and West (Charleston) both hit their first career home runs as Mountaineers after transferring to WVU over the offseason.
Chumley finished with four hits — two singles, a double and a home run — with four RBI and two runs scored. White had two hits and two RBI as did Ellis Garcia.
Chad Heiner took the loss for Marshall, allowing six runs on six hits in 2.2 innings.
The Mountaineers return to Morgantown this weekend for a three-game weekend series against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
