West Virginia stayed in-state for a Wednesday midweek matchup against Marshall in Charleston, defeating their in-state rivals 15-9.
The story of the game was West Virginia’s offense, who rallied back from multiple deficits in the game, scoring 15 runs on 16 hits. Eight of nine West Virginia hitters recorded a hit in the game, including five with multiple hits. The teams also combined for six home runs, three by each team.
Grant Hussey led WVU with three hits, including a double and home run, a walk and three RBI’s. Caleb McNeely hit two home runs, to go along with a team-high four RBI’s.
After a scoreless first inning, Landon Wallace singled and Grant Hussey got the Mountaineers on the board first with a two run home run, his second consecutive game with a home run, and third in his last four games.
After cruising through the first two innings, the Thunder Herd offense got to WVU pitcher Gavin Van Kempen in the third inning, leading off the inning with a single, then a game-tying home run by Luke Edwards.
Marshall followed the home run with a double, a walk and a single, ending Van Kempen’s night after 2.1 innings. Aidan Major replaced Van Kempen with the bases loaded and limited the damage, allowing only one run.
A lead-off double by Ellis Garcia to start the fourth inning led to a throwing error on the next play and allowed Garcia to score and tie the game.
Marshall took their lead back in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting the second of their three home runs, this time by Chris Noble to take a 4-3 lead after four innings.
WVU would take the lead back in the top of the fifth, after a JJ Wetherholt single led to a Braden Barry double to drive him in. Two batters later Caleb McNeely hit the first of his two home runs on the night to give the Mountaineers a 6-4 lead.
Once again the Thunder Herd responded in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with one out. Christian Lucio cleared the bases with a grand-slam to give Marshall the lead back. Kebler Peralta doubled and stole third with two outs in the inning, but Jake Carr got out of the inning with no further damage.
West Virginia got runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth, but were unable to capitalize. However they were able to tie the game in the top of the seventh with a two out rally started by a Sam White single. Landon Wallace and Grant Hussey hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game at eight.
Marshall responded for the final time of the night in the bottom of the seventh, getting runners on second and third with no one out. Chris Noble hit a single to right field to score the go-ahead run, but a Caleb McNeely throw got the second runner out at the plate and that’s all Marshall would score in the inning.
The Mountaineers started the eighth with three straight walks to load the bases, and would get the game-tying run in on a Dayne Leonard double-play grounder. McNeely hit his second home run of the game, a moonshot to left field to give WVU an 11-9 lead after eight innings.
WVU added four insurance runs in the ninth inning on a Tevin Tucker RBI single, Braden Barry RBI double and Dayne Leonard two RBI single to take a 15-9 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
Carlson Reed came in to pitch the ninth inning for the Mountaineers, striking out the side and allowing one hit to close the door on WVU’s victory.
West Virginia will be back in action on Friday, at Wagener Field for their Big 12 home opener against Kansas at 6:30.
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