Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The West Virginia University baseball team rallied for a 5-4 win over Charlotte on Friday at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.
 
Trailing, 4-1, the Mountaineers scored one in the seventh, two in the eighth and the go-ahead run in the ninth to complete their comeback in the opening game of a three-game, weekend series against the 49ers. WVU finished with nine hits on the night to improve to 4-1 on the season.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Watters earned the win, evening his season record to 1-1, while Colby Bruce took the loss for Charlotte (2-2).
 
"This is a huge win," WVU coach Randy Mazey said. "(Charlotte) is a really good team. They are coming off a regional, and they will probably be in a regional again this year. They are throwing all really good pitchers at us – Big 12-type competition. So, to come down here, and after being down 4-1, to come out of here with a win is a sign of a pretty good team."
 
The Mountaineers scored a first-inning run for the fifth consecutive game to begin the season with sophomore catcher McGwire Holbrook's RBI double to left to make it 1-0. In the bottom half, senior outfielder Austin Davis saved a run with a diving catch in right field, which led to sophomore right-handed pitcher Carlson Reed escaping a two-on, two-out jam with an inning-ending strikeout.
 
After the 49ers tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the second, Reed found his groove, retiring eight of nine batters from the end of the second to the fourth inning. In the fifth, however, the Mountaineers ran into trouble as Charlotte scored three runs to take a 4-1 lead.
 
In the seventh, WVU got its first three runners aboard and eventually cut the deficit to two, thanks to a sacrifice fly by freshman outfielder Evan Smith. But West Virginia couldn't capitalize any further in the frame.
 
After freshman right-hander Michael Kilker tossed a perfect bottom of the seventh, WVU tied the game at 4 in the top of the eighth. With runners on second and third, redshirt junior catcher/infielder Dayne Leonard hit a two-run single to even the score line.
 
Watters entered the game in the bottom half of the inning, where junior outfielder Victor Scott II immediately helped him out with an over-the-wall snag in centerfield to keep it 4-4.
 
From there, WVU's momentum continued in the top of the ninth, where the Mountaineers took a 5-4 lead on a squeeze play. With Davis charging down the third-base line, Scott II slapped a bunt back to the pitcher's mound. Davis beat the tag to put the visitor's back on top.
 
Then, Watters shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to help the squad claim the win.
 
Holbrook finished 3-for-3 at the plate in the win, while Leonard led the way with a pair of RBI. Additionally, the Mountaineers stole nine bases as a team on Friday.
 
On the mound, Reed allowed three runs on six hits in 4.0 innings, while striking out five in a no decision. Following his exit, the WVU bullpen – comprised of senior left-hander Beau Lowery, redshirt junior right-hander Noah Short, junior left-hander/outfielder Kevin Dowdell, Kilker and Watters – allowed just two 49er hits the rest of the evening.
 
Next up, WVU and Charlotte are set to play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m. ET. Due to expected inclement weather, Sunday's originally-scheduled series finale will be moved to approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of Saturday's first game.
 
Both contests can be seen live on CUSA.tv.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.