West Virginia Bounces Back and Knocks Out Ball State
Lexington, KY - West Virginia hit four home runs to end their six-game skid as the Mountaineers (40-19) kept their season alive with a 13-5 decision over Ball State, eliminating the Cardinals (36-23) from the 2023 NCAA Championship.
Ball State put the game's first run on the board in the bottom of the second when Jalen Martinez reached on an errant throw from Ellis Garcia which appeared to slip out of his hand, Blake Bevis followed with a walk, then Nick Gregory delivered a two-out RBI single to centerfield for a 1-0 lead.
West Virginia sophomore J.J. Wetherholt gave the Mountaineers the lead with a three-run home run in the third, his 16th of the year.
The Cardinals got a bead on WVU starting pitcher Ben Hampton in the bottom of the frame and did their damage with two outs on the board. Adam Tellier got Ball State going with a double into the gap of left centerfield, then the Cardinals rattled five consecutive singles for a four run third inning and a 5-3 lead.
West Virginia junior Braden Barry greets sophomore Grant Hussey at the plate following Hussey's solo home run in the seventh top of the seventh inning.
Julia Mellett - Sports Illustrated: FanNation - Mountaineers Now
The Mountaineers returned the favor in the top of the fourth, highlighted by home runs from Dayne Leonard and Logan Sauve to reclaim a 7-5 lead.
Grant Hussey added an insurance run in the seventh with a solo blast for an 8-5 advantage.
The Mountaineers broke the game open in the ninth. Cardinals' reliever Ty Weatherly loaded the bases with a walk and hit consecutive batters, ending his afternoon. Dayne Leonard ripped the 0-2 pitch from reliever Jacob Hartlaub for a two-RBI single, Tevin Tucker followed with a two-RBI double, and Logan Sauve squeezed a base hit through the left side, scoring Tucker and capping off a five-run ninth inning.
West Virginia reliever Aidan Major stepped onto the mound in the fourth and quickly settled in, retiring eight consecutive Cardinal hitters before relinquishing a hit in the sixth. The sophomore registered eight strikeouts in five innings of work before head coach Randy Mazey handed the ball over to senior Noah Short in the ninth and finished the game retiring the side as the Mountaineers take the win 13-5.
West Virginia will face the loser of the Kentucky, Indiana matchup Sunday at noon.
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