Apr. 18—Jace Rinehart’s down-the-line RBI double helped No. 24 West Virginia past Cincinnati 3-2 on Thursday night for the Mountaineers’ 12th consecutive win.
The game was tied in the sixth inning, but Rinehart’s bat kept hot. Kyle West walked, putting a man on first. Rinehart roped one down the left field line, allowing West to score from first and be the difference maker in the game.
“Their pitcher was having a good night, ” Rinehart said. “He was dealing … He was grunting a lot when he was throwing a lot of high stress pitches. I knew eventually he was going to make a mistake, because we were wearing on him a lot. He eventually made one with two strikes.”
Rinehart had two RBIs on two hits, improving on his.339 batting average, totaling 36 RBIs on the season. The senior added to West Virginia’s five hits on the night.
With Rinehart’s help, the Mountaineers kept the win-streak alive, dating back to March 28, and stayed atop the Big 12 at 11-3 and 32-4 overall. The Bearcats moved to.500 in the conference (8-8) and 21-16 in their first game in Morgantown since 2011.
The newcomer to the Big 12 didn’t feel like a newcomer. The Cincinatti dugout was active all night with cheers and chants, and both teams were a little chippy toward the end of the game.
It was another close one for West Virginia. A couple of days ago, WVU stole home to edge out in-state rival Marshall.
The Bearcats had a runner on third with one out in the top of the ninth. The crowds were yelling back and forth, but the emotional sophomore Chase Meyer locked in. He blew it by a batter for the second out, and with the Kendrick Family Ballpark on their feet, Meyer dealt to the third batter, Cincinnati’s Tommy O’Connor, with two strikes. He threw an off-speed and O’Connor chased, but the ball got by catcher Logan Sauve for a dropped third strike with the runner scoring. A pass ball was uncharacteristic of Sauve, and the rest of the WVU dugout thought the same.
Coach Steve Sabins thought the run counted, but Sauve and the rest of the dugout thought the ball actually hit the batter’s foot. The play was reviewed and ruled a strikeout because the ball did hit the batter’s foot, ending the game.
“I heard it hit off his foot, ” Meyer said. “I think everyone knows Logan is a great catcher. I knew he wouldn’t miss a ball like that. He’s caught me millions of times. I was more worried if our cameras didn’t work.”
The top 25-squad jumped out to a hot start in the first. West reached on a dropped third strike and stole second with a big jump. With two outs, Rinehart singled just past the shortstop, striking first.
In the top of the third, the Bearcats answered back. Cincinnati loaded the bases, and Donovan Ford lined a single in the right field gap, scoring two easily.
The Mountaineers didn’t want the win streak to end. The inning after, sophomore Spencer Barnett singled and worked his way around the bases, eventually scoring on a wild pitch, knotting the score 2-2.
Redshirt senior Griffin Kirn was on the bump to start for the Mountaineers, trying to get off to a hot start with the arms for the series. Kirn pitched 5.2 innings, racking up six strikeouts. He worked his way into a predicament in the third inning and allowed two runs. After several trips to the mound, Kirn struck out the next two batters to work his way out of it.
Kirn went three out of his first four innings, three up, three down, looking dominant.
At the start of the sixth, Kirn showed fatigue and loaded the bases. Sabins made the call to the bullpen. Meyer relieved Kirn. Kirn allowed five hits and two earned runs.
“Griffin Kirn was outstanding, ” Sabins said. “Quality start. 5.2 innings, six strikeouts.”
Meyer picked up the slack and didn’t allow a run in the inning. He closed the game with five strikeouts to earn the win, keeping the lead intact for the Mountaineers, even with a runner on third in the top of the ninth.
“Exciting game, ” Sabins said. “To end it with a strikeout with the ball hitting the guy’s foot was pretty wild. Haven’t seen that a lot—good way to start the series.”
Jace Rinehart’s down-the-line RBI double helped No. 24 West Virginia past Cincinnati 3-2 on Thursday night for the Mountaineers’ 12th consecutive win.
The game was tied in the sixth inning, but Rinehart’s bat kept hot. Kyle West walked, putting a man on first. Rinehart roped one down the left field line, allowing West to score from first and be the difference maker in the game.
“Their pitcher was having a good night,” Rinehart said. “He was dealing… He was grunting a lot when he was throwing a lot of high stress pitches. I knew eventually he was going to make a mistake, because we were wearing on him a lot. He eventually made one with two strikes.”
Rinehart had two RBIs on two hits, improving on his .339 batting average, totaling 36 RBIs on the season. The senior added to West Virginia’s five hits on the night.
With Rinehart’s help, the Mountaineers kept the win-streak alive, dating back to March 28, and stayed atop the Big 12 at 11-3 and 32-4 overall. The Bearcats moved to .500 in the conference (8-8) and 21-16 in their first game in Morgantown since 2011.
The newcomer to the Big 12 didn’t feel like a newcomer. The Cincinatti dugout was active all night with cheers and chants, and both teams were a little chippy toward the end of the game.
It was another close one for West Virginia. A couple of days ago, WVU stole home to edge out in-state rival Marshall.
The Bearcats had a runner on third with one out in the top of the ninth. The crowds were yelling back and forth, but the emotional sophomore Chase Meyer locked in. He blew it by a batter for the second out, and with the Kendrick Family Ballpark on their feet, Meyer dealt to the third batter, Cincinnati’s Tommy O’Connor, with two strikes. He threw an off-speed and O’Connor chased, but the ball got by catcher Logan Sauve for a dropped third strike with the runner scoring. A pass ball was uncharacteristic of Sauve, and the rest of the WVU dugout thought the same.
Coach Steve Sabins thought the run counted, but Sauve and the rest of the dugout thought the ball actually hit the batter’s foot. The play was reviewed and ruled a strikeout because the ball did hit the batter’s foot, ending the game.
“I heard it hit off his foot,” Meyer said. “I think everyone knows Logan is a great catcher. I knew he wouldn’t miss a ball like that. He’s caught me millions of times. I was more worried if our cameras didn’t work.”
The top 25-squad jumped out to a hot start in the first. West reached on a dropped third strike and stole second with a big jump. With two outs, Rinehart singled just past the shortstop, striking first.
In the top of the third, the Bearcats answered back. Cincinnati loaded the bases, and Donovan Ford lined a single in the right field gap, scoring two easily.
The Mountaineers didn’t want the win streak to end. The inning after, sophomore Spencer Barnett singled and worked his way around the bases, eventually scoring on a wild pitch, knotting the score 2-2.
Redshirt senior Griffin Kirn was on the bump to start for the Mountaineers, trying to get off to a hot start with the arms for the series. Kirn pitched 5.2 innings, racking up six strikeouts. He worked his way into a predicament in the third inning and allowed two runs. After several trips to the mound, Kirn struck out the next two batters to work his way out of it.
Kirn went three out of his first four innings, three up, three down, looking dominant.
At the start of the sixth, Kirn showed fatigue and loaded the bases. Sabins made the call to the bullpen. Meyer relieved Kirn. Kirn allowed five hits and two earned runs.
“Griffin Kirn was outstanding,” Sabins said. “Quality start. 5.2 innings, six strikeouts.”
Meyer picked up the slack and didn’t allow a run in the inning. He closed the game with five strikeouts to earn the win, keeping the lead intact for the Mountaineers, even with a runner on third in the top of the ninth.
“Exciting game,” Sabins said. “To end it with a strikeout with the ball hitting the guy’s foot was pretty wild. Haven’t seen that a lot—good way to start the series.”
