KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The West Virginia University baseball team ran its winning streak to 10 games to begin the season as the Mountaineers defeated Queens (N.C.), 11-7, at Atrium Health Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
It is the fourth best start to a season in program history and best since starting 18-0 in 1964.
Seniors Brodie Kresser and Jace Rinehart each had three hits on the day with Kresser driving in two and Rinehart knocking in three. Sophomore Armani Guzman added two hits, including his first-career home run.
Junior Carson Estridge was stellar with 5.2 scoreless innings of relief, striking out two while allowing just three hits. In 15.0 innings pitched this season, he has yet to allow a run.
The Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead on a Rinehart RBI single in the first, but the Royals answered with four runs in the home half.
In the second, WVU responded with five runs, all of which came with two outs as eight straight Mountaineers reached safely. Kresser drove in two with a double before a bases-loaded walk and two wild pitches put West Virginia ahead.
Guzman’s home run and another RBI single from Rinehart added two more runs in the third. Queens scored twice in the third and one in the fourth to get within one at 8-7, but Estridge shut the Royals down after that.
The Mountaineers added three insurance runs in the eighth on a single from freshman Gavin Kelly before he and freshman Jorge Valdes executed a first-and-third double steal. A run-scoring groundout by sophomore Spencer Barnett capped the scoring for West Virginia.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday for game three of the four-game series at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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