WVU Baseball Dominates Ohio 19-6 in Home Opener | 2024 Season
Mountaineers Dominate Ohio in Home Opener, Improve to 6-1
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 24 West Virginia University baseball team launched its home schedule with a resounding 19-6 victory over the Ohio Bobcats on Wednesday afternoon at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The win elevates the Mountaineers’ season record to 6-1, while Ohio falls to 1-7.
Sophomore Matt Ineich led the offensive charge, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs, and three runs scored against his former team. Seniors Brock Wills and Matthew Graveline each added to the power display with home runs, while senior Paul Schoenfeld contributed a double and a triple, driving in three runs alongside Wills.
West Virginia utilized nine pitchers in the game, with right-hander David Hagen earning the win after throwing two scoreless innings. Hagen began the game by hitting the first batter, but quickly settled in, aided by strong defensive plays. A key moment came when catcher Matthew Graveline threw out a runner attempting to steal third base, preserving the scoreless tie.
The Mountaineers established an early lead with a run in the first inning. The second inning saw a four-run outburst capped by a two-run triple from Schoenfeld. WVU extended its advantage with another run in the third before Wills launched a three-run home run in the fourth, pushing the score to 9-0.
Ohio mounted a response, scoring four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth. However, West Virginia answered emphatically with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Graveline’s two-run home run, his third of the season, ignited the rally, followed by a two-run double from Ineich and a sacrifice fly from junior Armani Guzman.
The Mountaineers continued to pour on the runs in the eighth inning, adding five more on a wild pitch, a two-run double by freshman Colton Sims, and a two-run single from redshirt-freshman Ryan Maggy. The offensive explosion secured a comfortable victory for West Virginia.
The game showcased a dominant performance from the Mountaineer offense, with multiple players contributing to the high-scoring affair. The pitching staff also proved effective, with nine different pitchers seeing action and Hagen earning the win with his two scoreless innings.
West Virginia will now turn its attention to a three-game series at Kennesaw State, beginning on Friday. The first pitch from Mickey Dunn Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. Fans can follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates and further information on the Mountaineers.