After defeating Charlotte in game one 8-1 (7 inn.), West Virginia dropped game two of Saturday’s doubleheader to Charlotte 3-2 (7 inn.) after a hot start.
West Virginia would get out to a lead early after Logan Sauve, who went 4-4 in the first game of the doubleheader doubled and was driven in by Sam White’s first home run of the season, to put the Mountaineers up 2-0 after the top of the first inning. White’s homer traveled 370 feet and was 102mph off the bat.
Charlotte would get one back in the bottom of the second, with junior Carson Bayne leaving the yard for his third home run of the season to make the game 2-1.
The 49ers would take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth after two runners moved into scoring position with two outs after a balk by WVU starter Hayden Cooper. Kaden Hopson would hit a sacrifice fly to drive in one and an infield single by Juan Correa to drive in the other.
Cooper’s day would be done with Joseph Fredericks coming in the game in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs as Charlotte looked to build their lead. Fredericks would get the Mountaineers out of the jam as they looked to get their bats going heading into the top of the fifth to get back into the game.
White would pick up West Virginia’s first hit since the second inning, to lead off the sixth. Then, Ben Lumsden would walk to put two men on with no outs. Both runners would advance on a SAC bunt by Ellis Garcia, but nothing would come of it however with Charlotte reliever striking out the next two batters.
In the bottom of the sixth, Tommy Beam would come on in relief for Fredericks, after he allowed a hit and walked a batter to open up the frame. Beam would roll a double play and strike out the next batter to keep the deficit at one.
Tyler Cox came in to pinch-hit in the top of the seventh for the Mountaineers picking up a single, but a failed SAC bunt attempt by Spencer Barnett popped up to the catcher would have West Virginia doubled up as Cox couldn’t get back in time.
Skylar King would hit an infield single to keep WVU alive with two outs with Armani Guzman coming in to pinch run, stealing second immediately. Then Sauve would walk with Aaron Jamieson coming into the game to pinch run, but to no avail as White would groundout to second to end the day for the Mountaineers.
Cooper pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks picking up the loss.
Tony Rossi came in and shut the doors for Charlotte, pitching three innings in relief, allowing no runs on three walks and two hits, striking out four. The 49ers’ starter Cameron Hansen pitched four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk, striking out five.
Bayne went 1-2 for Charlotte, picking up an RBI on the solo shot in the second inning and scoring two runs in the game. Brandon Stahlman went 2-3 for the 49ers, including a double and scored a run.
West Virginia will conclude their series against Charlotte on Sunday with first pitch at 1 p.m. EST. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.
