In the second game of the series between WVU and Arizona, the Mountaineers took the middle game of the series by a score of 11-3 after taking command of the game with a seven-run fourth inning.
Gavin Van Kempen got the ball in this one, making his fifth start of the year, coming into the game posting a 3.87 era in 16.2 innings of work. Owen Kramkowski made his sixth start of the year for the Wildcats, he has posted a 4.84 era in 22.1 innings of work pitching to a 3-1 record.
Arizona got off to a fast start in the first inning as Brendan Summerhill drilled a lead-off double over the head of Kresser and into the left-center field gap. Van Kempen was able to produce a groundout, but Mason White was able to bring Summerhill home on a double of his own down the right-field line to put Arizona on the board first. In the bottom of the inning, WVU posted three hits by Sauve, White, and West but failed to bring them home and left one stranded.
In the top of the second inning, Arizona would get on the board once more with a two-out RBI single by Summerhill to bring in Richie Morales, extending the Arizona lead to 2-0.
Van Kempen was able to work his first scoreless inning in the third, retiring the side in order.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Mountaineers were able to produce their first run of the game after Chase Swain reached on an error to start the inning, and Brodie Kresser reached on a fielder’s choice before Sam White brought them home on a two-out, two-RBI double to even the score at two.
In the top of the fourth, the Wildcats answered right back with a home run to left field off the bat of Tommy Splaine to give Arizona the lead once again. Van Kempen allowed a single to the next batter before he retired the next two, ending his afternoon. Reese Bassinger relieved Van Kempen after 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out three.
The Mountaineers exploded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring seven runs on six hits. Jace Rinehart got the inning started with a home run into the left-field bullpen to even the game at three. They then managed to load the bases for Brodie Kresser, who hit a line drive up the middle before it ricocheted off the second base bag and kicked into shallow right-center field, allowing King and Swain to score and give the Mountaineers a 5-3 lead. Logan Sauve followed that up with a walk to load the bases for Sam White, who laced a double to the right-center gap to clear the bases and make it an 8-3 game. Kyle West then brought White home with a double of his own. The Mountaineers led 9-3 at the end of the four.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jace Rinehart led off the inning with a blistering double into the left-center field gap. A few pitches later, he advanced to third on a passed ball before Skylar King laced an RBI double past the first baseman. Grant Hussey was able to follow that up with a single to plate King from second to make the game 11-3.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Bassinger came back out for the ninth to finish the game after coming in in relief for Van Kempen with two outs in the fourth inning to secure the win for the Mountaineers, 11-3.
Reese Bassinger, who relieved Van Kempen, pitched 5.1 in relief, allowing zero runs and striking out eight.
WVU improves to 19-2 on the season and will host Arizona again tomorrow for the rubber match of the series, with Carson Estridge getting the start to look to win the series.
