West Virginia opened the Morgantown Regional of the NCAA Tournament with a decisive 10-1 victory over Binghamton, snapping a slow start and taking control early.
Key moments
Binghamton drew first blood in the second inning when Zach Kent smashed a leadoff double, but the Mountaineers answered in the fourth with a solo homer from Matthew Graveline that flipped the lead.
The sixth inning proved to be a turning point. After a collision at the outfield that sent Matt Bolton to the ground, Armani Guzman advanced to second, setting the stage for Ben Lumsden’s two-run homer that stretched the lead to 5-1.
West Virginia didn’t stop there. Gavin Kelly and Armani Guzman each added doubles, and the Mountaineers plated five more runs, turning a modest advantage into a comfortable cushion.
On the mound, Chansen Cole delivered a masterclass, tossing six innings while fanning ten batters and allowing just one run. Closer David Hagen finished the job with three strikeouts over the final three frames.
The Mountaineers now turn their attention to the winners bracket, where they will meet Kentucky on Saturday, May 30 at 5 p.m. Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Maxx Yehl is slated to take the ball for West Virginia.