MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following a suspension of the opening game of a three-game series, the No. 25 West Virginia University baseball team rallied to defeat Oklahoma, 4-2, early Saturday afternoon.
The first five innings were played on Friday night, before lightning suspended the contest until Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers (25-15, 10-6 Big 12 Conference) were held to one run on six hits on Friday, before coming back with three runs on six hits in the final three innings on Saturday.
The Sooners (28-16, 6-7 Big 12) scored both of their runs, and had five of their eight hits, on Friday night.
Freshman right-hander Sam Kessler got the ball to start the day on Saturday and pitched 2.2 innings. He allowed just two hits with a strikeout and a walk and picked up his first career win.
Seven of WVU’s nine starters had at least one hit, and four different Mountaineers drove in runs. Sophomore shortstop Jimmy Galusky had three hits, while sophomore second baseman Kyle Gray drove in the eventual game-winning run with a two-out single in the sixth inning.
The game began on Saturday in the top of the sixth inning, with Oklahoma leading, 2-1.
Kessler took the mound to start the resumption of play, and stranded a pair of Sooner baserunners. The Mountaineers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead.
With the bases loaded and no outs, a double play groundout tied the game. Gray then followed with a single through the left side to give WVU its first lead of the series.
Kessler followed with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, and the Mountaineers loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half, but could not add to the advantage.
West Virginia added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Back-to-back one-out walks were followed by an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Cole Austin to put WVU ahead, 4-0.
Sophomore right-hander Braden Zarbnisky, who got the final out of the eighth inning, allowed three baserunners to reach in the ninth, on an error, a single and a two-out walk, but got a flyout to end the inning. Zarbnisky picked up his team-leading third save of the year.
Oklahoma took a 2-1 on Friday before the game was suspended at the end of the fifth inning.
All three of Friday’s runs were scored in the third inning. The Sooners benefited from a leadoff hit-by-pitch, and followed it with a one-out triple and a sacrifice fly.
The Mountaineers cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning, with a run to make it 2-1. Austin singled up the middle with two outs and scored on a single by sophomore right fielder Darius Hill.
West Virginia stranded the bases loaded in the first inning, the first three of 13 runners left on base in the contest for WVU.
WVU also threatened in the fourth, with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, but could not cut into the 2-1 deficit.
Junior right-hander BJ Myers was limited to 5.0 innings because of a rain delay. He allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
In addition to the suspension of the game following the fifth inning, the game was delayed nearly two hours due to rain and lightning in the area.
Game two of the series follows the conclusion of the suspended game. The series finale on Sunday, April 30, has been moved up 30 minutes, to 11:30 a.m., to accommodate a late change in OU’s travel schedule. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on TV throughout the state of West Virginia on Nexstar Media affiliates.
Tickets are still available for the remaining games against OU. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1-800-WVU GAME, purchasing tickets at
WVUGAME.com or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office at Gate A of Monongalia County Ballpark on gameday or in advance at the Gold Gate at the WVU Coliseum.
NOTES: West Virginia improved to 25-15 on the season and is in sole possession of second place in the Big 12 with a 10-6 league record … WVU has won the series-opener in five of its six Big 12 series … A crowd of 2,327 was in attendance, the 10th-highest total in program history … Freshman Sam Kessler picked up his first career win, while sophomore Braden Zarbnisky earned his team-best third save of the season.
Single game tickets, flex plan tickets and mini packs for the 2017 WVU baseball season are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1-800-WVU GAME, going to
WVUGAME.com or visiting the Mountaineer Ticket Office in the WVU Coliseum. The 2017 schedule is available on
WVUsports.com.
