INSTITUTE, W.Va. – It was a day for the bats at Cal Bailey Field, as West Virginia State Baseball improved to 12-4 on the season with a sweep of Mountain East Conference foe West Liberty, winning 6-4 and 13-2. State moves to 9-1 in MEC play.

The Yellow Jackets pounded out 24 hits across the two seven-inning contests, led by a pair of long balls from graduate student Matt Harrison, who went 5-for-8 on the day with four RBI. Sophomore Trey Junkins blasted his first career homerun in grand slam fashion, while catcher Andrew Massey also homered during the series.

Junkins turned in a 3-for-4 clip across the two games, and Massey went 3-for-5 with four RBI.

GAME 1: WVSU 6, WEST LIBERTY 4
A three-run homer from the Hilltoppers in the first inning set the Yellow Jackets trying to play catch up, breaking the blank in the second as Massey singled in Junkins, who boarded on a walk.  

A single to left field in the fourth inning gave WLU some cushion. In the bottom of that frame, junior Michael Stone singled up the middle, bringing home Junkins again, who led off this time with a double.

Stone then scored on a groundout from outfielder Jared Hunt, putting State within one at 4-3. Massey then played hero again, blasting a three-run shot to left field to bring home Stone and Harrison, who had each walked.

Daniel Brandon picked up the win, tossing six innings of relief while striking out five.

State cranked out 10 hits in the contest.

GAME 2: WVSU 13, WEST LIBERTY 2
A first inning solo shot from Harrison put the Yellow Jackets ahead right away, and the squad then added seven runs in the third. A long, deep single to left center from designated hitter Matthew Kline scored both infielder Christopher Jordan and Stone, who had singled and walked.

A walk to senior Andrew Stone loaded the bases for State, with Kline on second and Harrison, who connected on an infield single, at third. Enter Junkins, who smacked his first collegiate grand slam and put WVSU up 8-0.

Junkins was at it again in the fourth, tallying another RBI on a single up the middle that scored Kline, who had reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame. Harrison also scored that inning to give the Yellow Jackets a wide 10-0 advantage.

Another homer from Harrison in the fifth- this one a three-run bomb over the left field line- gave the Yellow Jackets their final runs on the afternoon.

Graduate student Jacob Bradley earned the win to move to 2-1 on the season, registering three innings of work with two strikeouts and allowing just one hit. Reliever Clark Reese recorded the three-inning save, hurling four and scattering just two walks and three hits.

State registered 14 hits in the finale. Jordan went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs, and Hunt added two hits.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets remain at home, hosting Wheeling in a Saturday twinbill. First pitch is slated for 1 PM. Wheeling suffered the sweep Friday to Charleston, but remains atop the North Division standings at 11-6.