UCF and West Virginia started the weekend ranked first and second in the Big 12 for batting, and following a total of five runs scored in the first game on Friday, game two on Saturday told a very different tale.
A total of nine runs were recorded in just the first inning, and ultimately, West Virginia blew their 5-0 advantage but rallied several times to secure a 15-10 victory and clinch the series.
Following one hit on Friday, the Mountaineers equaled that on the game’s opening pitch with a single by Skylar King. The second batter, Kyle West, matched Friday’s total by hitting a double while the Mountaineers had two runners on base without any outs.
The bases would eventually be loaded, and the next four batters who took their turn at bat all knocked in at least one run.
Gavin Kelly got a single, Grant Hussey followed with a double, Brodie Kresser hit a single, and Spencer Barnett then added a sac-fly, putting WVU ahead 5-0 at the end of the top of the first.
Gavin Van Kempen had ample support as his offense established a five-run advantage before he even stepped on the mound. He would face difficulty right away, as two walks, a single, and a home run quickly put UCF behind 5-4, with Van Kempen failing to secure even one out.
The 5-4 score remained intact until the fourth inning when WVU’s Ben McDougal calmed the game, and UCF’s starting pitcher Russell Sandefer began to find his rhythm.
The Knights were the next to score, tallying two runs off Ben Hudson as three hits in the inning brought in two runs, giving UCF a 6-5 advantage.
WVU evened the score in the top of the fifth, yet UCF regained the advantage in the bottom of the inning, leading 7-6. The teams exchanged runs once more in the seventh, with WVU equalizing again, but UCF held a lead of 8-7 at the inning’s conclusion.
West Virginia responded emphatically in the eighth, scoring four runs in the top half of the inning.
The inning began with Grant Hussey getting on base due to an error, followed by Brodie Kresser’s single. The two moved to second and third on a bunt before King hit a two-run double down the left field line, putting West Virginia ahead 9-8.
WVU increased their advantage to 11-8 when Armani Guzman bunted Jace Rinehart home, followed by King scoring on a groundball hit by Logan Sauve.
Chase Meyer, who threw on Friday, returned to the mound late in the game on Saturday. He came into the game in the seventh inning, giving up one run on two hits. Currently ahead in the eighth, a runner got on due to an error, then he left after a walk following what appeared to be a mistaken strike three call.
Carson Estridge stepped in, finishing Friday’s game, attempting to escape the predicament with just one out in the inning. Estridge permitted a single to the initial batter he confronted, prior to DeAmez Ross drawing a walk on eight pitches, which brought the score to 11-9 in favor of the Mountaineers with one out remaining. UCF added another run on a sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 11-10 as they entered the ninth inning.
In the ninth inning, WVU’s offense provided crucial insurance, as Ben Lumsden, who was 2-for-22 before the game, launched a three-run homer, giving the Mountaineers a 15-10 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning.
It wouldn’t be the simplest inning for Estridge, giving up two hits, but he managed to close the inning and secure the victory.
Kresser concluded the game with a 3-for-5 performance at bat, while West achieved a 3-for-3.
UCF recorded 16 hits to WVU’s 13, as the Knights stranded a total of 16 runners on base.
WVU employed a total of eight pitchers during the game, with Estridge wrapping up the last 1.2 innings, giving up no runs and three hits.
