SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Feb. 27, 2023) – The West Virginia baseball team played an exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday evening at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, falling to the big leaguers, 6-0.
 
The D-backs scored a run in the first and five in the second, but the WVU relievers held them scoreless for the final five innings of the seven-inning contest.
 
Freshman Ellis Garcia had the lone hit for the Mountaineers, a ground-rule double off former Astro Peter Solomon.
 
Freshman Gavin Van Kempen got the start on the mound and got off to a good start in the first, inducing a double play before striking out former Texas standout and 2022 Golden Spikes winner Ivan Melendez.
 
Redshirt-freshman David Hagaman threw two scoreless innings with a couple of strikeouts, including Melendez. Sophomore Aidan Major and senior Kevin Dowdell pitched a scoreless sixth before sophomore Keegan Allen closed out the game with a scoreless seventh.
 
The Mountaineers struggled at the plate against the professional pitchers, including the D-Backs starter Blake Walston, a first-round pick in 2019 and the No. 5 prospect in the Arizona system.
 
West Virginia will return to the field this Friday in Williamsburg, Virginia against William & Mary. First pitch against the Tribe is set for 3 p.m.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.