After game three of a four-game series got postponed on Sunday due to rain, West Virginia (2-2) and Stetson (2-2) played a doubleheader on Monday which they split at a game apiece.
Game two began with a concerning/developing situation for West Virginia as star shortstop JJ Wetherholt was removed from the game to be evaluated for an injury after walking and scoring in the top of the first. WVU was in control for most of the game since jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the first and after the game was tied post-second inning.
They tacked on three runs by the end of the seventh without a Stetson scoring, as they lead 5-2. In the bottom of the eighth, however, the Hatters would piece together a three-run inning, that included catcher Gio Cueto picking up his third RBI of the day. A successful suicide squeeze in the top of the ninth by Ellis Garcia would be the difference as he scored two and ended game two, leading WVU with three RBIs without claiming a hit. Logan Sauve was also crucial in the 7-5 win hitting a solo home run, going 2-3 with two walks and two runs scored as the DH, getting a break from catching.
In game two, the Mountaineers picked up 10 hits and walked seven times, with nine runners LOB. Gavin Van Kempen would earn the win in relief, as he pitched two innings striking out three and allowing one run on two walks and one hit, successfully closing out the game for West Virginia.
The Hatters took game one in walk-off fashion for their second consecutive win in such a way. Stetson jumped out to an early three-run lead that was only answered by a Grant Hussey solo shot. West Virginia had a three-run, three-hit sixth inning, which included a double-steal with Sam White stealing home to put them up by one 4-3, after being down since the first inning. Stetson was quick to respond tying the game at four in the bottom half of the sixth and would eventually win 5-4 in the ninth with a walk-off double.
Game One
In the bottom of the first WVU’s starter, Hayden Cooper had some command issues after allowing a leadoff hit.
Cooper walked the bases loaded, then Stetson’s Gio Cueto hit an RBI single to give the Hatters an early advantage with just one out. Stetson would capitalize again with a sacrifice-fly, scoring another run, leading 2-0.
The Hatters would tack on another in the bottom of the second, after Yohann Dessureault doubled to begin the frame, advanced to third on a sac-fly and scored on a groundout to short, as WVU was in an early 3-0 hole.
WVU would score their first run of the game with a Grant Hussey solo home run in the top of the fifth. Hussey’s shot went 395 feet and was 110 mph off the bat.
Chaos then ensued in the top of the sixth. After Brodie Kresser popped out in foul territory, JJ Wetherholt singled to start what would be a WVU rally. Sauve followed up Wetherholt’s single with a single of his own, and Wetherholt would score on a fielder’s choice to bring the game to 3-2.
Ellis Garcia would hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield, to score Sauve and advance Sam White to third, tying the game at three. With two outs the Mountaineers pulled off a successful double-steal which included White stealing home and Sauve swiping second, to put WVU up 4-3.
The lead didn’t last long though, as back-to-back doubles for Stetson tied the game at 4-4.
The game was still tied heading into the bottom of the ninth.
In his third inning of work, Hambleton Oliver gave up a leadoff hit to Stetson’s Kyle Jones but performed a successful pick-off move to secure the first out of the inning. Oliver then walked a batter and allowed a single before getting the second out of the inning via a pop-out to the third baseman in foul territory. Jayden Hylton walked it off for Stetson with an RBI double to take the first game of the doubleheader 5-4.
Game Two
The Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead in game two. With one out, Wetherholt and Sauve walked. Lumsden would then hit a single to short, scoring Wetherholt and advancing Sauve to third after a throwing error by the shortstop. Before the start of the bottom half of the first, Skylar King came in to play center, with Kresser moving to short after Wetherholt exited the game to be evaluated for an injury.
Stetson would tie the game at two in the bottom of the second with Dessureault hitting a two-run homer.
West Virginia was quick to answer in the top of the third, however, with a home run of their own off the bat of Sauve to put them back on top by one, 3-2.
In the top of the fourth, WVU would add to their lead with a Kresser RBI single scoring Reed Chumley, 4-2. Through four innings, the Mountaineers had six hits, four walks and four runs, with five left on base.
Stetson’s Brendan Walker struggled pitching, allowing four of those hits and a run in just 0.2 innings on just 18 pitches. The Hatters called upon Chris Shrine in relief to get them out of the jam.
In the bottom of the fifth, Joseph Fredericks came in to pitch for West Virginia in relief of starter Carson Estridge. Estridge pitched four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk. He had five strikeouts against 18 batters faced.
In the top of the seventh, West Virginia built their lead with a SAC fly off the bat of White, scoring King after a SAC bunt by Lumsden advanced runners to second and third.
To begin the bottom of the eighth, Fredericks walked the first two batters, resulting in Van Kempen being called in to pitch. Van Kempen got an out against the first batter he faced but walked the next loading the bases. Jayden Hylton hit an RBI groundout to short, before Cueto drove in two with a single, tying the game at five heading into the ninth.
In the top of the ninth, Sauve walked and was pinch-ran for by Armani Guzman. Lumsden singled to put runners on first and second before a SAC bunt by White advanced them both into scoring position. Garcia then successfully executed a successful suicide squeeze for West Virginia scoring both Guzman and Lumsden, to put WVU up 7-5 headed into the bottom half of the inning.
Van Kempen would successfully close out the game for the Mountaineers, becoming the winning pitcher.
