Ben Lumsden hit a pair of home runs, including a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning as West Virginia baseball beat Stetson 6-4 on to open the 2024 season.
The main storyline for WVU (1-0) this season was going to be JJ Wetherholt and rightfully so. Wetherholt got the game started off with a bang, as he walked to open the game before stealing second and third base. He put the Mountaineers on the board on a single from Sam White.
WVU added to their lead in the second inning, with Lumsden homering (1) to center field. Wetherholt would then reach on an infield single, before he swiped his third bag of the night, stealing second. Logan Sauve then scored Wetherholt with a single as the Mountaineers went up 3-0.
Aidan Major got the start for the Mountaineers, and cruised through the first inning while striking out two. In the second, though he allowed a pair of doubles as Stetson (0-1) got on the board.
West Virginia answered in the fourth as Skylar King doubled, before Wetherholt was intentionally walked. Stetson attempted a pickoff attempt, but they couldn’t convert, as the Mountaineers extended their lead to 4-1.
Major would run into issues in the sixth inning as Jayden Hilton, who doubled off of Major earlier, hit a two-run home run to cut more into WVU’s lead as Stetson trailed 4-3. The sixth inning would be the last for Major, as the Mountaineers turned to Maxx Yehl. Yehl also struggled with the long ball, as Evan Griffis hit a home run in the seventh to tie the game at 4-4.
In the eighth, Lumsden would come with the ultimate answer. Charleston (DII) transfer Kyle West walked, before the UT Arlington transfer Lumsden hit a 400-foot home run (2) to center field, giving WVU a 6-4 lead.
Baylor transfer Hambleton Oliver came in the game in relief of Yehl in the seventh inning, and retired seven straight batters, striking out three in the process, including getting Griffis to strikeout to end the game.
Major finished the night tossing 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on three hits, while walking three, and striking out seven. Oliver (1-0) got the win and the save, throwing 2.1 innings, throwing only 22 pitches and struck out three.
Lumsden finished the night going 3-for-4 with two home runs, with three RBI. White added three hits, while Sauve had two hits. Wetherholt reached base in three of his five plate appearances and had three steals. As a team, WVU struck out seven times.
Up next is game two of the series against Stetson, with first pitch set for Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.
Photo from WVU Athletics
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