FIRST PITCH
Score: West Virginia 7 | Queens 1
Records: West Virginia (9-0 overall, 0-0 Big 12) | Queens (2-7 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: Atrium Health Ballpark (Kannapolis, N.C.)
 
The Short Story:
Despite a quality start from junior Landry Jurecka, the visiting West Virginia Mountaineers plated five runs over the last three innings to grab the series opener on Friday night. West Virginia got an incredible start from southpaw Griffin Kirn who tossed 8.0 innings allowing just one unearned run on five hits while fanning 10 Royals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens jumped on the visiting Mountaineers in the first inning as Nick Alderfer got the frame started with a one-out single through the left side. A failed pickoff attempt from the Mountaineers pitcher allowed Alderfer to move into scoring position. Jake Barbour moved Alderfer up 90 feet with a fielder's choice and Justin Hudson drove in the first run with a single to center field.
-In the top of the third inning, Grant Hussey laced a one-out single through the left side to get the Mountaineers offense in business. A fielder's choice to the second baseman would keep a runner at first with two outs. West Virginia got aggressive putting a runner in motion and Brodie Kresser flared a single into center field. The Mountaineers baserunner didn't hesitate rounding third looking to tie the game, but Queens centerfielder Caleb Stewart delivered a strike to Lenox Lively behind the plate who applied the tag to cut down the Mountaineers baserunner and end the inning.
-After being held scoreless through four frames, West Virginia would cash in during the top of the fifth inning with two runs on one hit and a Queens error. With a runner on second and one out, a fielding error by the Royals put runners on the corners. Armani Guzman capitalized with a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game on close play at the plate. Brodie Kresser followed it up with an RBI double down the right-field line to give the visiting Mountaineers a 2-1 lead.
-The Mountaineers added two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh inning. Brodie Kresser laced an RBI double to left center to plate the first run before an infield single brought across the Mountaineers second to extend the lead to 4-1.
-For the second straight frame, the Mountaineers tacked on a pair of runs on two hits capitalizing on three free passes.
-West Virginia wrapped up the scoring with a run in the top of the ninth. Skylar King ripped a two-out single through the right side before swiping second base for the Mountaineers sixth stolen base of the evening. A wild pitch would advance King to third before another wild pitch brought home the seventh run of the game for the visitors.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Queens starting pitcher Landry Jurecka turned in his best start of the young season twirling 5.2 innings and allowing no earned runs despite six hits from the Mountaineers. The junior fanned three West Virginia hitters in his third outing of the season.
-Nick Alderfer and Anibal Rivera recorded a hit for the third straight game as the duo went 1-for-4 at the dish. Alderfer plated the only Royals run on the RBI single from Justin Hudson in the first inning.
-Junior Justin Hudson capitalized on an early Mountaineers error by dropping a two-out RBI single into center field. The knock was Hudson's ninth RBI of the season as he leads the offense in runs driven in.
-Sophomore Jake Barbour continued his impressive start to the season with a 1-for-4 day at the plate. The Raleigh native has reached safely in all nine games this season as he posts a team-high .400 batting average.
-Tyler Peters and Charlie Marcantel rounded out the offense with a base hit. Peters came through in the eighth inning with a one-out single into center field for his third hit in six plate appearances.
-The Mountaineers offense sprayed 12 hits on the night while holding the Royals to six hits.

NEXT UP
Queens and West Virginia will continue their four-game series on Saturday, March 1^st at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. Fans can purchase their tickets in advance here. Following the Saturday afternoon showdown, the series will shift to Greensboro, North Carolina for game three at First National Bank Field. Tickets for Sunday can be purchased here.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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