West Virginia State Yellow Jackets knocked off NCAA Division II No. 4 ranked Mercyhurst University Friday with a doubleheader sweep of previously undefeated Lakers by scores of 5-2 and 5-4. The games were played as part of the 5th Annual College Baseball Classic held at Historic Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina.
Starting pitcher Colby Gainer was lights out on the mound for WVSU as he threw a complete game three-hitter shutting down the nation’s top ranked offense. Gainer on the day pitched 7.0 innings, allowed three hits, two earned runs and struck out nine batters for the complete game win.
WVSU built a five run lead in game one’s first four innings, led by the Yellow Jackets’ Brandon Wright’s two hits and three runs batted in, for the 5-0 lead. In the top of the seventh inning, Mercyhurst plated two runs on a run scoring single and a Yellow Jackets fielding error as Gainer pitched a gem for the 5-2 victory, earning his second win for the season.
In game two, like in game one, the Yellow Jackets took a 5-0 lead scoring the game’s first run in the first inning then added four more runs in the top of the sixth inning. WVSU’s Trevor Sampson drove in three runs in the contest.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Mercyhurst Lakers scored four times, one on a double to start the scoring, then collected two more runs on a bases loaded single to drive in two more runs. Mercyhurst completed its scoring on a fielder’s choice before ending the inning leaving the bases loaded.
Hunter Bradley, who started on the mound for West Virginia State in game 2, allowed four hits and four runs in five innings pitched before reliever Tyrel Panter shut down the next four batters he faced to earn his second save for the season. Bradley collects his second win of the season.
WVSU improved to 6-3 and returns to action in the 5th Annual College Baseball Classic with a scheduled game Saturday against Bloomsburg University and another Sunday against Kutztown University.