The West Virginia Mountaineers kept their bats blazing Tuesday night, picking up a 9–6 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus.
Coming off a weekend series win over BYU in which they scored a staggering 39 runs in two games, the Mountaineers entered Tuesday ranked 35th nationally in total runs. They continued that hot streak against Ohio State, thanks to timely hitting and a strong relief performance from pitcher Reese Bassinger.
Early Action Sets the Tone
Ohio State got on the board early with a solo homer in the bottom of the first, then added another in the second to stay slightly ahead. West Virginia answered with a run in each of the first two innings, including a score on a wild pitch and a clutch RBI single from Logan Sauve to tie the game at 2–2.
Mountaineers Break It Open in the Fourth
The game turned in the fourth inning when WVU’s offense erupted. After a walk and a single put two runners on, the Mountaineers delivered with two outs. Spencer Barnett’s two-run single was followed by Sauve’s second big hit of the night—a two-RBI single up the middle.
Ohio State threatened in the bottom half by loading the bases with no outs but could only muster two runs, narrowing WVU’s lead to 6–4.
Bassinger Shuts the Door
Reese Bassinger took the mound in the fourth and delivered a steady, composed performance for the remainder of the game. He pitched 5.1 innings in relief, striking out two and walking just one. He gave up three hits and two runs, limiting the Buckeyes’ offense and keeping WVU in control.
Offense Keeps Adding On
The Mountaineers tacked on three more runs in the middle innings. Chase Swain’s RBI single in the fifth and a pair of sixth-inning runs—one on a wild pitch and another on a sacrifice fly—helped extend WVU’s lead to 9–4.
Ohio State managed a run each in the seventh and eighth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome WVU’s offensive firepower.
Sauve, King, Swain Shine at the Plate
Logan Sauve led the charge, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Skylar King had a solid outing as well, scoring three runs and collecting two hits in four at-bats. Chase Swain also contributed with a 2-for-4 night, an RBI, and a run scored.
WVU’s offense totaled 10 hits and reached base nine more times via walks. On the mound, four pitchers saw action, with Tyler Hutson starting the game and pitching two innings, followed by Cole Fehrman, Mac Stiffler, and the standout Bassinger.
Next Up: The Backyard Brawl
The Mountaineers won’t have much time to rest, as they return home Wednesday night for a showdown with longtime rival Pitt in the Backyard Brawl. With their offense firing on all cylinders, WVU will look to keep the momentum going in front of their home fans.
