West Virginia Blasts Georgia Southern

Statesboro, GA - The West Virginia Mountaineers blasted three home runs to (1-2) collect their first win of the season and avoided the series sweep with a resounding 14-4 decision over the Georgia Southern Eagles (2-1) Sunday afternoon.

Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year Noah Ledford lifted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Eagles the early 2-0 lead.

West Virginia answered in the top of the second inning. Logan Sauve was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then Sam White singled back up the middle before Landon Wallace blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall to give the Mountaineers the 3-2 advantage.

Caleb McNeely tacked on another Mountaineer run in the third after a one-out solo home run to extend the lead to two, 4-2.

In the top of the fifth inning, Georgia Southern reliever Troy Britts began the frame walking consecutive Mountaineer batters, ending hiss afternoon. Eagles head coach Rodney Hennon for the lefty Jonah Milchuck. He recorded the first out with a pop fly to right field but walked the bases loaded.

Tevin Tucker followed with an RBI sacrifice fly before Braden Barry broke the game open with a three-run home run off the scoreboard in left field as the Mountaineers extended their lead to five, 8-3.

West Virginia added a run in the seventh after Evan Smith received a four pitch walk and Tevin Tucker was hit by a pitch to put two on with one out. Then, Barry hit a sharp ground ball to second which bounced off second basemen Jesse Sherill's glove as Smith rounded third and scored at home.

The Mountaineers' offensive onslaught continued in the ninth. Evan Smith doubled down the right field line before Braden Barry was delivered four straight balls and J.J. Wetherholt was intentionally walked, loading the bases.

Dayne Leonard delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to score Smith. Then, Caleb McNeely singled into left field for a pair of RBI's and took second on the play at home. He advanced to third and crossed home plate on wild pitches as WVU closed the game with a four-run ninth inning for a 13-4 win.

West Virginia sophomore starting pitcher Grant Siegal collected his first win as a Mountaineers. The Tulane transfer went five innings, allowed three hits and three runs and recorded five strikeouts.

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