Mountaineers Whack Golden Gophers 7-2

Morgantown, WV - West Virginia (9-4) notched its third win in a row following a series clinching 7-2 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-13) Saturday afternoon.

West Virginia put the game's first run on the board in the third when Braden Barry hit a two-out single to left field, proceeded to steal second before J.J. Wetherholt ripped a base hit to centerfield as Barry raced home and slid in safely for a 1-0 Mountaineer lead.

Teven Tucker started a five-run fifth inning with a five-pitch walk, then stole second base, and on the throw, the ball one-hopped away from Minnesota shortstop Jake Larson into left field as Tucker dashed around third and into home.

Braden Barry kept the momentum going with a hit back up the middle which was stopped by Larson, but the throw was low, and Barry took first for a base hit. Minnesota starting pitcher George Klassan struggles continued, walking Wetherholt before head coach John Anderson called out to his bullpen for Joe Hauser.

Barry and Wetherholt welcomed Hauser to the game with a double steal, then a wild pitch scored Barry, an RBI single from Dayne Leonard and a hard hit double by Sam White scored Leonard gave the Mountaineers a commanding 6-0 lead.

Minnesota produced its first two runs of the game after Brady Counsell hit a leadoff double, then advanced to third on a sacrifice fly before cleanup hitter Sam Hunt hit a high fly ball that dropped into the hole down the left field line, scoring Counsell. Jake Perry doubled into the rightfield corner and a sacrifice to centerfield brought in Hunt for the Golden Gophers' second run of the game.

Caleb McNeely stretched the WVU lead back to five with a solo home run in the seventh.

West Virginia starting pitcher Blaine Traxel tossed eight innings with eight strikeouts and allowed two runs on seven hits for his third win of the season. Freshman right-hander Carson Estridge closed the game in the ninth as the Mountaineers gook game two and the series with a 7-2 decision.

The Mountaineers will look to sweep the series on Sunday with the first pitch set for noon.

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