MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team opened its series against Kennesaw State with a decisive 16-2 victory, Friday afternoon at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The Mountaineers improve to 13-0 on the season while the Owls fall to 5-10.
 
It is the fourth best start in program history for WVU and the best since 1964. The Mountaineers are one of just four undefeated teams remaining in the nation along with Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida State.
 
The Mountaineers tallied 18 hits on the day, led by four each from juniors Sam White and Skylar King. Senior Jace Rinehart added two hits, including his second home run of the season. White, King, Rinehart, senior Grant Hussey, freshman Jorge Valdes, and senior Brodie Kresser all had multiple RBIs in the contest.
 
On the mound, redshirt senior Griffin Kirn, the reigning Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week, earned his third win of the year with two runs allowed in 5.1 innings while striking out six. Four Mountaineer relievers closed the game with 4.2 scoreless innings.
 
Redshirt junior Chase Swain got WVU on the board in the second with an RBI single. After the Owls evened up the game in the third, the Mountaineers retook the lead with three runs in the home half, including a two-run home run from Rinehart.
 
A Hussey single and White sacrifice fly in the fourth added two more runs before Kennesaw State got a run in the fifth. The Owls threatened in the sixth with bases loaded and one out, but Bassinger recorded a strikeout and flyout to escape the jam unscathed.
 
The Mountaineers put the game away with a nine-run seventh inning with junior Ellis Garcia, junior Logan Sauve, Kresser, King, White, Valdes, and Hussey all driving in runs. Kresser added another RBI in the eighth with a sacrifice fly.
 
The two teams will meet again on Saturday for the second game of the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.