Mountaineers Allow 3 Runs in the 7th and Drop Season Opener

West Virginia commits three errors and allow three runs in the seventh to fall 4-3 to Georgia Southern

Statesboro, GA - West Virginia (0-1) dropped the season opener to Georgia Southern Friday night 4-3 after leading 3-1 heading into the seventh inning. However, the Eagles (1-0) took advantage of a pair of walks in the seventh and scored three runs to edge the Mountaineers. 

West Virginia left runners stranded on second in the first two innings before Georgian Southern put the first run on the board following an array of Mountaineer errors in the bottom of the second inning for the early 1-0 advantage. 

Braden Barry went to the opposite field for a one-out triple off the left field wall in the top of the third, and J.J. Wetherholt was hit by a pitch, putting runners at the corners but, again, the Mountaineers failed to cross the plate. 

In the top of the fourth, Georgia Southern recorded an unconventional double play, getting a strikeout and an attempted steal at second was recorded as an out. However, Evan Smith took first after he was hit by a pitch, then Nevada transfer Landon Wallace tripled off the left field wall to bring Smith home and tie the game at one. Next, Wallace stole home to give WVU a 2-1 advantage. 

Wetherholt got hit by another pitch to lead off the fifth and Dayne Leonard followed with an RBI double as the Mountaineers extended their lead to 3-1. 

Georgia Southern threatened in the sixth when Jesse Sherril worked a leadoff walk and Sam Blancato recorded the Eagles first hit of the game to put runners at the corners with no outs. However, Ben Hampton beared down and struck out three consecutive batters to get out of the inning. 

Hampton began the seventh with a walk, and Mazey called out to his bullpen for sophomore Aidan Major. Hampton finished his 2023 season debut with eight strikeouts in six innings. 

Major walked the bases loaded before Sherill placed a bunt down the third base line to get for an RBI single to pull the Eagles within one. Major got Blancato out swinging before Mazey called out to his bullpen for the lefty Jake Carr. Then, on the 3-2 pitch, Noah Ledford squeezed a two RBI single through the left side as Georgia claimed a 4-3 lead. 

West Virginia put the tying run on second in the top of the ninth, but a pair of strikeouts ended the Mountaineers chances for a comeback as Georgia Southern pulls off the season-opening win, 4-3. 

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