ELKINS, W.Va. - WVU Tech baseball swept a nonconference doubleheader at Davis & Elkins College on Tuesday, earning a 9-3 win in game one before holding on for an 8-7 victory in game two. With the sweep, the Golden Bears improved to 15-27 overall.

Game 1 - WVU Tech 9, Davis & Elkins 3

WVU Tech came out quickly in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning. Maddex Sims singled to open the game, Cody Cooper brought home the first run on a groundout and Angel Leiva followed with an RBI single to score Jake Tompkins and make it 2-0. Davis & Elkins answered with one run in the bottom half, but the Golden Bears kept the pressure on the rest of the afternoon.

The Golden Bears added on in the fourth when Gabe Templeton singled home Brayden Kiblinger, then made it 4-1 in the fifth on an RBI single from Reece Patterson. In the sixth, Templeton delivered another RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 6-2. WVU Tech then put the game away in the seventh. Ethan Dylan Turner scored on a Carson Crigger RBI double, JJ Polvinale came home on a wild pitch and Crigger scored on a sacrifice fly by Kiblinger for the final 9-3 margin.

Templeton led the offense in game one, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Leiva also had two hits and an RBI, while Kiblinger finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Crigger added a double, an RBI and a run, and Cooper and Patterson each drove in a run.

On the mound, Stefan Machkovski earned the win after allowing one run on three hits over 3.0 innings with three strikeouts. Andrew Lynch followed with 2.0 innings and allowed one run, Jonas Franti worked the sixth and Braedan Pakkala closed the game with a scoreless seventh. WVU Tech pitching limited Davis & Elkins to three runs despite 11 hits.

Game 2 - WVU Tech 8, Davis & Elkins 7

Game two turned into a back-and-forth battle, but the Golden Bears answered every push from the hosts. Davis & Elkins scored three times in the first inning before WVU Tech erupted for five runs in the second. Tyler Mackey got Tech on the board with an RBI single, Carson Crigger followed with a two-run triple, Cooper drove in another run with a groundout and Nate Wolfe capped the rally with an RBI double to put the Golden Bears in front 5-3.

WVU Tech added another run in the third when Nolan Copeland came home on a Brayden Kiblinger RBI single, but Davis & Elkins answered with three runs in the bottom half to tie the game at 6-6. The Senators then moved ahead 7-6 on a solo home run in the fourth. Tech kept battling and drew even in the sixth when Crigger singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Cooper. In the seventh, Joshua Tibbits walked, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single by Copeland to give the Golden Bears the lead for good at 8-7.

Crigger paced the offense in the nightcap, going 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Cooper drove in two runs, Copeland reached base three times and scored twice, and Wolfe finished with a double and an RBI. Mackey and Kiblinger also added RBIs in the win.

The Golden Bears used five pitchers in game two. Aidan McGlothlin started, Luke Richards and Andrew Lynch bridged the middle innings and Owen Ruppenthal delivered a scoreless sixth to keep the game tied. Jonas Franti worked a scoreless seventh to finish off the sweep.

Golden Bear Highlights
Game 1

• Gabe Templeton - 2-for-3, 2 RBI, run scored
• Angel Leiva - 2-for-3, RBI, walk
• Brayden Kiblinger - 2-for-2, RBI, run scored, walk
• Carson Crigger - Double, RBI, run scored
• Reece Patterson - 1-for-3, RBI
• Stefan Machkovski - Win, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 K

Game 2

• Carson Crigger - 3-for-5, triple, RBI, 2 runs, SB
• Cody Cooper - 1-for-4, 2 RBI
• Nolan Copeland - 1-for-1, RBI, 2 runs, 2 walks
• Nate Wolfe - Double, RBI, walk
• Tyler Mackey - RBI single, run scored
• Brayden Kiblinger - RBI single
• Owen Ruppenthal - Scoreless inning in relief
• Jonas Franti - Scoreless seventh inning

What's Next

WVU Tech returns to River States Conference play Friday, April 17, with a road game at Indiana University Columbus at 3 p.m. The Golden Bears then continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 18, at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.