Freshman West Virginia pitcher Aidan Major allowed just one hit in seven innings and led the Mountaineers to a 9-1 win over Pitt on Tuesday night at Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark in Morgantown, W.Va.
This was the third time this season that West Virginia and Pitt squared off, Pitt won the first meeting at Charles L. Cost Field in March and the Mountaineers won 3-2 at PNC Park in April.
Pitt, who’s been a pretty good offensive team this season, was stymied by Major, who didn’t allow a single hit or run in six innings and had eight strikeouts. He had just two walks and the only hit that he allowed was a home run to Ron Washington Jr. in the top of the seventh.
In contrast, the Panthers had a rough night pitching, as they went through six pitchers, nine hits were allowed, two of which were home runs. Victor Scott II and Braden Barry both had a home run and three RBIs. Pitt had just two hits on the night and both came from Washington.
Pitt pitcher Jonathan Batista was tagged for three runs in the bottom of the first. McGwire Holbrook singled up the middle to bring JJ Weatherholt and Austin Davis home to give West Virginia a 2-0 advantage. Kevin Dowdell then ripped one down the first baseline for a double to bring Barry home.
Batista didn’t give up any runs in the second inning but was pulled in the third and replaced by Dylan Lester. In two innings, Batista gave up three runs on five hits and had an ERA of 8.35. In the bottom of the third, West Virginia almost enhanced its 3-0 lead, but Holbrook was called out at home plate.
Through four innings, Major allowed no hits and retired eight batters in a row, along with four strikeouts. With two runners on base and two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Scott homered down the right-field line to increase the Mountaineers’ lead to 6-0.
Major continued to deal and retired three Pitt batters in a row in the top of the fifth. He also had six strikeouts. Pitt right-hander Brady Devereux replaced Lester in the bottom of the fifth. Lester gave up three runs on two hits and had an ERA of 7.23 in two innings.
Major’s no-hitter ended in the top of the seventh, as Washington homered to right field to cut West Virginia’s lead to 6-1. It was Washington’s 13th home run of the season. Tyler Kennedy replaced Devereux in the bottom of the seventh, but didn’t even last one inning, as he was pulled after letting runners on first and third with no outs. Quin Konuszewski couldn’t get out of the jam and allowed a three-run home run to Barry that increased West Virginia’s lead to 9-1. Carlson Reed closed things out for the Mountaineers and secured the lopsided victory.
Pitt’s next game is on Friday, May 13, against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET and the game can be streamed on the ACC Network.
