In a game dominated by strikeouts, it was West Virginia (11-7, 2-1 Big 12) who came out on top 5-2 as they combined to strike out 17 Ohio State batters on Friday at Kendrick Family Ballpark in Morgantown.
Ohio State (8-8) started the game with a single by Henry Kaczmar in the top of the first inning, then West Virginia got on the board first in the bottom of the inning when Ben Lumsden hit an RBI single to score Sam White.
Ohio State tied the game in the top of the third inning when Henry Kaczmar hit an RBI single to score Hank Thomas. The Buckeyes would then take the lead when Matthew Graveline hit a single and Trey Lipsey scored off an error.
West Virginia got a single from Skylar King and nothing else as Ohio State took the lead 2-1 after three innings.
Mitchell Okuley hit a single for Ohio State then Joseph Mershon walked in the top of the fourth, then the Mountaineers were retired in order in the bottom of the inning with a strikeout, a fly out and a foul out.
Kaczmar had another hit with a single in the top of the fifth inning. WVU only got on base in the bottom of the fifth when Skylar King walked.
Ohio State managed to load the bases in the seventh inning, but they ultimately came away with nothing as they closed the side with two straight strikeouts. West Virginia tied the game with a Michael Perazza RBI groundout to score Reed Chumley, then they took the lead with a three-run home run from Skylar King scoring Brodie Kresser and Kyle West.
West Virginia struck out every Ohio State batter they faced in the top of the eighth inning, then Ohio State retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning themselves with a pair of groundouts and a flyout.
West Virginia would seal the deal when they struck out two consecutive Ohio State batters to take game one of the series.
Aidan Major got the start for the Mountaineers and tied his season high with nine strikeouts. Gavin Van Kempen got the win to move to 3-1 on the season and David Hagaman got the save as the two combined to strike out seven.
Landon Beidelschies took the loss for the Buckeyes as he moves to 2-3 on the season. Beidelschies struck out 12 as Ohio State combined to strike out 13 in this one.
Henry Kaczmar led all hitters in hits with three in this one to go along with an RBI. King had the lone home run of the game as he hit his second home run of the season.
Game two of the series is set for 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Kendrick Family Ballpark with the game available to watch on ESPN+.
