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BB24 Baumgardner
Photo: Todd Griffith
2
Malone MALONE 0-1
5
Winner West Virginia State WVSU 1-0
Malone MALONE
0-1
2
Final
5
West Virginia State WVSU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Malone MALONE 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 7 0
West Virginia State WVSU 0 0 0 1 0 4 X 5 7 1

W: Lewis, Camron (1-0) L: J. Phelps (0-1)

3
Malone MALONE 0-2
6
Winner West Virginia State WVSU 2-0
Malone MALONE
0-2
3
Final
6
West Virginia State WVSU
2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Malone MALONE 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 1
West Virginia State WVSU 2 0 2 0 2 0 X 6 8 0

W: Norris, Chase (1-0) L: Ayden Hall (0-1) S: Baumgardner, Tyrus (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

Yellow Jackets sweep Malone in 2024 season opener

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State baseball (2-0) swept Malone (0-2) in a doubleheader played on Friday afternoon at Shawnee Sports Complex. The Yellow Jackets came from behind late in the first game to win it, 5-2, before they went up early in the second game and came away with a 6-3 victory.

Game 1: WVSU 5, Malone 2, Final/7

Colin Bryant got the start in the first game of the day and threw a one-hitter through five innings. Malone's starter, Josh Salinas, was also strong through four innings on the mound. Salinas cracked first, giving up a run in the fourth inning to break the deadlock.

Connor Fizer was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Kay followed up with a single up the middle to advance Fizer to third base. Two at bats later, Michael Bittinger singled into right field to drive in Fizer, 1-0.

Bryant gave up his first hit, a single, in the top of the fifth. A second runner was put on base after a fly ball was dropped in the outfield. With one out, he was tasked with preventing runners from scoring from second and third after the Pioneers successfully orchestrated a double steal. Bryant struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed.

Malone went up 2-1 in the top of the sixth. Nathan Paulsen prevented a third run from being scored in the half inning when he nailed a runner at the plate from center field. Two RBI-singles from the Pioneers followed. Camron Lewis came in to relieve Bryant with two outs and two men on base. Lewis got the third out with a ground ball.

State rallied with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. The tying run came across the plate when Chris Morris was hit by a pitch. Mike Huber then stepped up to the plate and doubled to the gap in right center to clear the bases, 5-2. 

A double play was turned by Kyle Waters and Bittinger in the top of the seventh. Lewis got the final out of the game with another groundout. He was credited with his first win of the season.

Game 2: WVSU 6, Malone 3, Final/7

State's run support came earlier in the second game of the afternoon. An error made by Malone's shortstop allowed Huber and Waters to score in the first inning, 2-0. Huber reached base with a double to left field before Waters drew a walk with two outs.

The Pioneers responded in the top of the second with an RBI-single hit into center field, 2-1. Starting pitcher Chase Norris left two men on base in the half inning.

The score was tied up, 2-2, in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly hit to deep right field.

Fizer put the Yellow Jackets back on top with a two-run screamer over the left field fence in the ensuing half inning, 4-2. Waters crossed the plate for the second time after reaching base with a single to left field.

Malone cut the lead to one run, 4-3, in the fourth inning with a groundout that allowed the base runner on third to come home.

Tyrus Baumgardner relieved Norris in the top of the fifth. Norris exited the game with seven strikeouts. Baumgardner proceeded to not allow a single Pioneer to reach base in the 2.2 innings remaining.

State tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, 6-3. Paulsen and Bittinger drove in one run each with back-to-back singles with two outs.

Norris was credited with his first win of the season while Baumgardner earned his first save this year.

Next Up

The Yellow Jackets will head to Salem for another doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 18 next. State will play Walsh first at 1 p.m. before playing a second game against the hosts.
 
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