Double-digit scoring became the standard for the Mountaineers in North Carolina this week, and they continued that trend in dominant fashion for the series finale.
West Virginia extended its undefeated streak to 12 games on Monday afternoon, winning its fourth and final game against Queens 17-3.
Eight second-inning runs forced Queens starter Joey Ruller off the mound just one out into his second inning. Derek Westfall allowed one more run in the inning after replacing Ruller, which would be his first of three in under two innings.
Freshman catcher Gavin Kelly and junior third baseman Chase Swain tied for a team best three runs in the game. Kelly made it on base four times with three hits and a walk and earned three RBIs to go with his runs. Swain grabbed four hits, including a double, in five at-bats and sent two runners home.
10 of WVU’s 15 batters on Monday scored one run or more. Sophomore short stop Spencer Barnett and senior outfielder Jace Rinehart, earned the team’s only home runs of the day. Both did so on sophomore pitcher Jack Renaud in the fifth inning. Rinehart sent himself and Kyle West home just one out before Barnett earned RBIs for himself, Swain, and Kelly.
On the mound, head coach Steve Sabins got seven players in the rotation. Only freshman starter David Hagen pitched more than one inning. Sophomore Joe Fredericks and freshman Bryson Hoff split the fourth inning, where all three of Queens’ runs were allowed. Both of Fredericks’ runs were unearned.
Hagen earned the win despite pitching just two innings, throwing a strikeout and a hit. WVU’s dominance forced the game to end at the end of just seven innings.
The Mountaineers return to action at home on Friday against Kennesaw State. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Kendrick Family Ballpark in Morgantown and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
