BECKLEY, W.Va. — WVU Tech baseball delivered a complete performance Tuesday afternoon, sweeping a nonconference doubleheader against Davis & Elkins College at Linda K. Epling Stadium. The Golden Bears claimed a tight 3-2 victory in game one before erupting offensively for a 13-2 win in game two.
With the sweep, WVU Tech improves to 11-19 overall on the season.
Game 1 – WVU Tech 3, Davis & Elkins 2
WVU Tech used timely hitting and a strong outing from its pitching staff to secure a one-run victory in the opener.
The Golden Bears opened the scoring in the second inning when Brayden Kiblinger delivered an RBI single to bring home Nolan Copeland. Tech added another run in the third as Gabe Templeton executed a sacrifice bunt to score Maddex Sims and take a 2-1 lead.
After Davis & Elkins tied the game in the fourth, WVU Tech responded in the fifth. Sims worked a walk and advanced into scoring position before Copeland drew a bases-loaded walk to bring him home for what proved to be the game-winning run.
Sims scored twice and reached base three times to lead the offense, while Kiblinger recorded a hit and RBI. Cody Cooper and Carson Crigger also added hits, with Crigger notching a triple.
On the mound, WVU Tech combined for 10 strikeouts and limited Davis & Elkins to five hits. Stefan Machkovski struck out seven over 2.2 innings, while Cole Brown earned the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. Clayton Hargus closed the door with a scoreless seventh to secure the victory.
Game 2 – WVU Tech 13, Davis & Elkins 2
The Golden Bears broke things open early and never looked back in the second game, piling up 13 runs on 12 hits.
WVU Tech jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Gabe Templeton and an RBI single from Carson Crigger. The Golden Bears then put the game out of reach in the third inning with a seven-run explosion.
During the big third inning, JJ Polvinale delivered an RBI single, Cody Cooper ripped a two-RBI double, Crigger added a two-RBI single and Joshua Tibbits capped the rally with a two-run double as Tech extended the lead to 11-0.
Crigger led the offense with two hits and three RBIs, while Polvinale finished with two hits and two RBIs. Templeton added two hits and two RBIs, and Cooper recorded two hits and two RBIs. Tibbits contributed a double and two RBIs, while Ethan Dylan Turner and Grayson Kesterson also drove in runs.
On the mound, Jonas Franti set the tone with 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two to earn the win. The Golden Bear bullpen continued the strong effort, combining to limit Davis & Elkins to two runs on five hits.
Golden Bear Highlights
Game 1
Game 2
What's Next
WVU Tech returns to River States Conference play this weekend with a series on the road at Oakland City University.
