West Virgina Wins Game 2, Takes Series vs. No. 16 UCF
The Mountaineers extended their conference winning streak to six after defeating 16th-ranked Knights
Granville, WV – The West Virginia Mountaineers (21-13, 10-4) took game two and the series against the No. 16 UCF Knights (21-11, 8-9) Saturday evening 7-5.
West Virginia starting pitcher Derek Clark tossed his fourth consecutive nine inning game, collected his fourth win of the season and recorded a Mountaineer career-high 10 strikeouts.
“He does what good starting pitchers do - they get better the longer they’re out there,” said West Virginia head coach Randy Mazey. “His first three innings, he wasn’t settled in yet. His last three, seventh, eighth and ninth were way better than his first second and third. It’s hard to measure what that guy’s got in his chest, he’s just a tremendous leader, tremendous competitor, and tremendous pitcher.”
UCF scored the game’s first run in the top of the third inning on a wild pitch before redshirt sophomore Braden Calise hit an RBI double down the third base line for a 2-0 Knights lead.
Knights starting pitcher Dom Stagliano hit a pair of Mountaineers batter to start the bottom of the inning and an error at third on a Logan Sauve bunt loaded the bases before sophomore Sam White hit a ground ball to second for an RBI and cut the deficit in half 2-1.
Redshirt senior Jack Zyska hit a leadoff home run in the fourth to put the Knights back up two.
West Virginia got back within one in the bottom of the frame when freshman Spencer Barnett hit a shallow sacrifice RBI fly ball to left field to get the Mountaineers back within one, 3-2.
“We don’t have even half the speed we had last year but we’re going to take what they give us,” Mazey said. “It’s amazing, even though we don’t have the speed, when we run and when we bunt and when we play that game, we usually win.”
In the fifth, junior JJ Wetherholt tied the game with a leadoff home run, then, with two outs, senior Reed Chumley hit a solo home run for a 4-3 West Virginia lead.
The Mountaineers added to their lead in the sixth. Grant Hussey hit a leadoff single to right field. The junior stole second before Barnett squeezed a single through the left side, scoring Hussey, then Wetherholt hit a drive to left field for the sacrifice RBI to put the Mountaineers up three, 6-3.
West Virginia senior Derek Clark hurls a pitch towards home versus UCF.
Christopher Hall
The Knights closed the game after senior Anthony Calabro hit a solo home run in the seventh. However, sophomore Sam White responded in the bottom of the inning with a home run to put the Mountaineers back up three.
The Knights threatened in the ninth, putting two on with no outs. Junior Dylan King popped up to first and Clark struck out Calabro, but redshirt Andrew Brait lined an RBI single down the right field line to get the Knights within two. Then, senior Keano Saurez grounded to short to end the game as the Mountaineers held on for the 7-5 victory.
West Virginia will look for the series sweep Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is set for noon and the action will stream on ESPN+.