GRANVILLE — Ohio State left no doubt Sunday, as the Buckeyes tore into WVU pitching to the tune of a 26-11 victory at Kenderick Family Ballpark.
Ohio State (10-8) took the three-game series with the win, scoring a combined 35 runs in the three games.
The Buckeyes hit back-to-back home runs in the third off WVU reliever Hambleton Oliver on Sunday to take a 7-2 lead and Matt Graveline added four hits and drove in two more runs.
WVU starter Tyler Switalski took the loss. He lasted just two innings and gave up four runs.
Oliver, David Hagaman, Cole Fehrman and Chase Meyer combined to pitch the next four and allowed 15 runs.
Tyler Pettorini and Joseph Mershon hit the home runs in the third, with Pettorini’s being a three-run shot.
It’s the second-most runs WVU (11-9) has ever allowed in a single game. Villanova (2012) and Clemson (1975) also put up 26 runs against the Mountaineers,
Graveline had seven hits over the three games for Ohio State.
WVU did tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning, after Michael Perazza had an RBI single and Spencer Barnett scored another run on a groundball out.
Ohio State broke it open with the two home runs in the third and then added eight more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by five RBI singles.
Isaac Cadena hit a ground-rule double in the seventh inning, when the Buckeyes added four more runs.
Former Morgantown High star Aaron Jamison hit a grand slam in the ninth inning and Perazza and Barnett each drove in three runs for the Mountaineers.
WVU’s pitching was solid in winning the first game of the series on Friday, striking out 17 Buckeyes in that game.
But Ohio State bounced back quickly, scoring a combined 33 runs in the final two games on 31 hits. On Sunday, WVU pitchers walked 12 batters and hit seven more.
WVU star J.J. Wetherholt sat out the series with a hamstring injury. He’s now missed the last 16 games.
