ARLINGTON, Texas – The West Virginia University baseball team won its third-straight game with a 6-4 victory over UT Arlington on Wednesday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.

 

The Mountaineers (12-10 overall, 2-4 Big 12) finished the five-game Texas swing with a 3-2 record, including winning three-straight games. West Virginia scored six runs on eight hits with no errors, while UT Arlington (12-11, 4-2 Sun Belt) scored four runs on eight hits with two errors.

 

"This is a really tough place to hit because the wind is always blowing in your face," coach Randy Mazey said. "I thought that was as good as we've swung the bats all year long."

 

Freshman second baseman Kyle Davis led WVU at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and scored two runs. Senior third baseman Justin Fox added two hits and senior left fielder Brad Johnson drove in two runs.

 

Junior right-hander Blake Smith picked up his first career save after loading the bases with two outs in the ninth inning. Smith induced a pop fly foul out to end the game and strand the bases loaded.

 

"You never know when you get into the middle of a game like that, how many extra runs you're going to need," Mazey said. "That sixth one became really important because a two-run lead is way better than a one-run lead when they loaded the bases in the ninth."

 

Johnson put the Mountaineers on the board with an RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the first to give WVU a 1-0 lead for the second time in as many days. Fox scored the run after reaching base on a single to left field.

 

Senior catcher Cam O’Brien and sophomore designated hitter Ray Guerrini reached to open the top of the second inning and each player scored, extending the WVU lead to 3-0. O’Brien and Guerrini were sacrificed by sophomore center fielder Shaun Wood, and freshman right fielder Caleb Potter grounded out to third base to score O’Brien. Guerrini advanced to third base on the play, drawing an errant throw across the diamond by the first baseman, and Guerrini scored on the error.

 

West Virginia used small ball to put the fourth run on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Wood successfully executed his second sacrifice bunt of the game, this time a suicide to squeeze that Davis from third base.

 

After UT Arlington scored one in the bottom of the fifth, WVU brought the lead to 5-1 with one run in the top of the sixth inning. Davis singled to lead off the frame and came around to score on a Guerrini double to left center field.

 

Sophomore first baseman Jackson Cramer drew a two-out walk in the top of the seventh and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Johnson drove in Cramer with a single to left center field for his second RBI of the game to extend the Mountaineer lead to 6-1.

 

UTA cut the deficit to 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh with two runs on three hits. Dalton DeLeon and Cody Farrell had back-to-back doubles to start the frame with Farrell’s scoring DeLeon. Farrell then scored on a single by Jackson Morris down the right field line.

 

The victory went to freshman right-hander BJ Myers (2-1), who went three innings in relief. Myers allowed three runs on four hits with one strikeout and two walks.

 

Freshman right-hander Shane Ennis (1-0) started the game and took the no-decision in three innings, giving up no runs on two hits with one strikeout and four walks.

 

West Virginia returns to action with a weekend series against Charleston Southern from March 27-29 at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.

 

Tickets will cost $5 at the gate and all seating will be general admission.

 

All previously purchased tickets, either as season tickets or single game tickets, for the games affected by the delayed opening of Monongalia County Ballpark will be honored for admission to the games at CONSOL Energy Park. All seating for these previously purchased tickets will be general admission for the games in Washington.

 

The game can be heard on the affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG College with Jeff Culhane and Ernie Galusky on the call. Friday and Saturday’s games will be aired on the flagship station WRLF 94.3 FM and all three games will air on flagship station WMMN 920 AM.

 

Additionally, fans can listen to the broadcast via the WVU Gameday App on their mobile device, as well as the TuneIn Radio App. WVUsports.com also will carry free live audio via the LeanStream Player at WVUsports.com/audio.

 

A link to the video stream and live stats will be available on WVUsports.com.