West Virginia University
1-2
Georgia State (DH)
2-1
Mountaineers Downed in Saturday’s Nightcap
February 20, 2021 09:58 PM | Baseball
Playing the second half of Saturday's doubleheader, the Panthers took an early lead and never looked back in the affair. WVU finished with four runs on 11 hits with one error, while GSU tallied 20 runs on 20 hits and no errors.
After the Mountaineers (1-2) stranded a runner in the top of the first, Georgia State (2-1) wasted little time getting going offensively. The Panthers recorded 11 runs on eight hits in the opening frame, taking a commanding lead. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Jake Carr started on the mound for WVU but lasted just two-thirds of an inning.
GSU added to its big lead with five runs in the third, before senior catcher/designated hitter Paul McIntosh helped get West Virginia on the scoreboard in the fourth. The Miami Gardens, Florida, native hit a rocket up the middle for an RBI single.
From there, the Panthers scored two more in the fourth and two in the seventh.
In the top of the fifth, a pair of freshmen were able to drive in a run for the Mountaineers. First, freshman utility/right-handed pitcher Ben Abernathy hit an RBI single, scoring sophomore outfielder Chris Klein, before freshman outfielder Braden Barry plated Abernathy later on. It marked the first career RBI for both newcomers.
Out of the bullpen, junior left-handed pitcher Beau Lowery allowed just one hit in two innings of work, striking out four in the process. Then, sophomore righty Jimmy Starnes tallied four strikeouts of his own in two innings of action.
In the ninth, freshman catcher McGwire Holbrook walked with the bases loaded, earning his first career RBI.
Abernathy, Barry, sophomore outfielder Dominic Ragazzo and sophomore outfielder Victor Scott all registered two hits for the Mountaineers in the setback, while Abernathy also tossed a scoreless inning on the mound.
Carr took the loss, while GSU's Rafael Acosta was credited with the victory.
Next up, the Mountaineers and Panthers cap their season-opening, four-game series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Acosta, Rafael (1-0)
L: Carr, Jake (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Barry, Braden 1
RBI: Abernathy, Ben 1 ; Barry, Braden 1 ; McIntosh, Paul 1 ; Holbrook, McGwire 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Klein, Chris 1 ; Abernathy, Ben 2 ; Blasick, Nathan 1
HBP: McCormick, Matt 1 ; Bean, William 2
Batting:
2B: Puckett, Kalen 1 ; Merejo, Elian 1 ; Mize, Will 2 ; Smith, Ashby 1
HR: Mize, Will 1
RBI: Puckett, Kalen 2 ; Cheney, Griffin 2 ; Merejo, Elian 4 ; Mize, Will 3 ; Smith, Ashby 4 ; Abboud, DeAngelo 2 ; Pearson, Dalton 1 ; Marchman, Blaine 1 ; Riesselmann, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Puckett, Kalen 3 ; Cheney, Griffin 1 ; Bowling, Branson 1 ; Merejo, Elian 3 ; Mize, Will 3 ; Glass, Ryan 1 ; Smith, Ashby 2 ; Pearson, Dalton 1 ; Smith, Josh 1 ; Marchman, Blaine 1 ; Riesselmann, Kyle 3
HBP: Bowling, Branson 1 ; Merejo, Elian 1 ; Glass, Ryan 1 ; Smith, Josh 1 ; Marchman, Blaine 1
