KENNESAW, Ga.–A late inning error and walks proved costly for West Virginia as the Mountaineers dropped the season opener to Kennesaw State 5-3 on Friday afternoon in the Atlanta Challenge.
Nick Snyder relieved Alek Manoah in the bottom of the seventh and walked two batters and hit a batter, which led to a three-run inning after an error on a double play attempt.
The Mountaineers (0-1) scored three runs on six hits. The Owls (1-0) scored five runs on six hits.
Manoah tossed six innings, giving up one earned run on five hits while fanning 13 batters.
Darius Hill and Marques Inman led WVU with two hits each. Ivan Gonzalez drove in two RBI.
The Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. With one out, Hill tripled down the left field line and scored on Paul McIntosh’s fielder’s choice.
Manoah cruised through the next two innings, striking out the side in the second.
However, in the bottom of the third a leadoff double, a hit batsman and a single loaded the bases for Kennesaw State with no outs. But Manoah got out of jam unharmed courtesy of two strikeouts around a fielder’s choice where Kevin Brophy threw the runner out at home.
In the bottom of the fifth, Alex Carballo singled home David Chabut, who reached on Brophy’s error.
Tyler Doanes led off the sixth with a base hit through the left side. With one out, Inman singled to left field and McIntosh walked. Then Gonzalez doubled to left center, scoring Doanes and Inman to give WVU a 3-1 lead.
After Tyler Simon’s leadoff double, the Owls pulled within 3-2 when Garrett Hodges’ base hit scored Simon from third.
Snyder relieved Manoah in the bottom of the seventh and hit a batter and walked two before Beau Lowery came on in relief. Doanes’ error gave Kennesaw State the lead for the first time in the day. Hodges’ single to right field put the Owls up 5-3.
Due to inclement weather, Sunday’s game has been canceled. The Mountaineers will play at Georgia State at 12 p.m. and Georgia Tech at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Cover Photo Credit: Jeff Ruff, BGS
