King Delivers 3-Run HR in the Seventh Lifts WVU Past Ohio State

Morgantown, WV - West Virginia sophomore Skylar King blasted a three-run home run in the in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Mountaineers (11-7) past the Ohio State Buckeyes (8-8) Friday night 5-2. 

West Virginia grabbed the early lead when sophomore Sam White went to the opposite field and slipped a one-out single before sophomore Benjamin Lumsden delivered an RBI double into centerfield for the 1-0 Mountaineer lead. 

In the top of the third with two on and two outs, sophomore Henry Kaczmar ripped a single to leftfield for his 12th RBI of the season, then sophomore Mathew Graveline hit a hard ground ball back up the middle and stopped by sophomore shortstop Ellis Garcia but the throw from his knees stuck to his hand and went toward rightfield as another run scored and the Buckeyes took a 2-1 lead. 

West Virginia starting pitcher Aidan Major tied a career-high nine strikeouts in six innings. The junior took the mound in the seventh and walked freshman Zach Fjelsted to begin the inning before head coach Randy Mazey called in Max Yiehl. The sophomore walked one and a sacrifice bunt registered the first out before Yiehl struck out two consecutive Buckeye hitters to end the inning. 

West Virginia senior Reed Chumley got the Mountaineers going with hard hit groundball down the left field line for a double, senior Kyle West ripped a single into left-centerfield and freshman Michael Perazza put the ball in play for the sacrifice RBI to tie the game at two. Then, with two on, sophomore Skylar King smashed the 1-1 pitch well over the rightfield wall for a three-run home to give the Mountaineers the 5-2 lead. 

Mountaineer reliever David Hagaman took the mound in the eighth, retired the side and regestered three more strikeouts in the ninth as the Mountaineers take the 5-2 decision.