West Virginia lost to Charlotte 6-5 on Sunday, splitting the four-game weekend series, after giving up five runs in the bottom of the eight inning.
Charlotte used six pitchers in the victory, striking out WVU 11 times while not allowing an extra-base hit.
The Mountaineers went down in order in the first inning but got on the board first in the second. With two runners in scoring position after a sacrifice bunt, Kyle West picked up a two-run single to put the Mountaineers up 2-0 early.
Charlotte would score their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth with Rene Lastres looping an RBI single into right, scoring Noah Furcht. That was Sauve’s sixth RBI of the series, after having five in an incredible performance in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader where he went 4-4 with two home runs and a double.
In his third at-bat of the day Logan Sauve would drive in Spencer Barnett with an RBI single to extend West Virginia’s lead 3-1 in the top of the fifth, knocking out 49ers pitcher Ryan Degges, who pitched 2.2 innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits, striking out three.
After walking a batter to begin the bottom of the sixth, WVU’s starter Carson Estridge’s day would be done. He pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks, striking out three.
The Mountaineers would continue to build their lead in the top of the seventh, where Skylar King would drive in two with a single. They were up 5-1 with the game winding down.
Max Yehl came on to pitch for the Mountaineers in the bottom of the eighth with two runners on, relieving Hambleton who threw a season-high 46 pitches. Yehl faced just one batter throwing just two pitches, which he hit to load the bases.
David Hagaman was then brought into the game and let up an RBI single to the first batter he faced. Then, Juan Correa picked up an RBI for the 49ers and reached first on a fielder’s choice after an errant throw from Spencer Barnett sailed over first baseman Grant Hussey’s head.
Hagaman would hit the next batter to reload the bases. Madness would then ensue after Sam White was unable to track down a pop fly in left which resulted in a bases-clearing triple for Johnny Sutryk to give Charlotte a 6-5 lead going into the ninth.
In the top of the ninth, the Mountaineers were unable to answer the 49ers’ huge eighth inning as they were retired in order to end the game.
Sutryk went 2-2 on the day with the go-ahead three-RBI triple to clinch the win for Charlotte. Lastres went 2-4 with two RBIs, batting in the 49ers’ first run and getting the rally started in the eighth.
Freshman Joseph Taylor shut the door on West Virginia, pitching two innings and striking out three, while not allowing a hit or giving up a walk.
A disorderly eighth inning was the clear factor as West Virginia moves to .500 on the season with a 4-4 record.
The Mountaineers will next be in action on Wednesday in their home opener against Canisius, with the first pitch set for 3 p.m. EST and the game being streamed on ESPN+.
