COLUMBUS, Ind. - WVU Tech baseball closed out its River States Conference road series at Indiana University Columbus with a 6-4 victory on Saturday after dropping both games of Friday's doubleheader, 13-3 and 2-1. The Golden Bears moved to 16-29 overall and 5-19 in conference play with the win.
Game 1 - IU Columbus 13, WVU Tech 3
WVU Tech collected nine hits in the opener and stayed within striking distance through six innings before IU Columbus broke things open with a seven-run seventh. Jake Tompkins provided one of the offensive highlights with a solo home run in the fourth, while Angel Leiva drove in a run in the sixth and Carson Crigger added an RBI single in the seventh.
The Golden Bears had production throughout the lineup. Tompkins finished 2-for-3 with the home run, an RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Cody Cooper doubled, Nolan Copeland added a double, and Leiva, JJ Polvinale and Crigger each recorded a hit and an RBI.
On the mound, Braedan Pakkala worked 4.1 innings and allowed five runs, two earned, while Stefan Machkovski followed with 1.2 innings and two strikeouts. WVU Tech carried a 6-3 deficit into the seventh before IU Columbus used its late surge to pull away.
Game 2 - IU Columbus 2, WVU Tech 1
The second game of Friday's twinbill turned into a tight pitcher's duel, and WVU Tech stayed in it throughout. The Golden Bears opened the scoring in the first when Gabe Templeton came home on a bases-loaded walk by JJ Polvinale, but IU Columbus answered with a run in the bottom of the first and added the go-ahead run in the third.
WVU Tech was limited to two hits in the game, one by Templeton and one by Maddex Sims, but continued to battle and kept pressure on the hosts into the late innings. Marco Viteri Moran gave Tech a solid start, allowing two runs on five hits over 4.2 innings while striking out four. Cameron Lynch followed with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief as the Golden Bears kept the game within one run.
Game 3 - WVU Tech 6, IU Columbus 4
WVU Tech finished the series on a strong note Saturday, using a four-run seventh inning to claim the finale. The Golden Bears scored in the first on an RBI groundout by Cody Cooper, added another run in the second on a Carson Crigger fielder's choice, then broke through in the seventh. Gabe Templeton singled home the tying run before Jake Tompkins lined a two-run single to right, and Maddex Sims followed with an RBI single to make it 6-3.
Tompkins led the offense in the win, going 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks. Sims finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, Templeton went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk, and JJ Polvinale added a hit and scored a run. WVU Tech made the most of five hits and capitalized on four IU Columbus errors in the victory.
The Golden Bears also received a big lift from the pitching staff in the finale. Tate Martino opened the game and Cameron Lynch dominated in relief with 10 strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Luke Richards added 1.1 innings, and Aidan McGlothlin closed it out with 1.2 scoreless innings and four strikeouts to help secure the road win.
Golden Bear Highlights
Game 1
- Jake Tompkins - 2-for-3, home run, RBI, 2 runs, walk
- Angel Leiva - 1-for-3, RBI
- Cody Cooper - Double
- Nolan Copeland - Double, run scored
- Carson Crigger - 1-for-2, RBI, walk, stolen base
- Braedan Pakkala - 4.1 IP, 5 R, 2 ER
- Stefan Machkovski - 1.2 IP, 2 K
Game 2
Game 3
Season Leaders
Through 43 games, WVU Tech is batting .275 as a team with 242 runs, 353 hits and 97 extra-base hits on the season.
Gabe Templeton leads the Golden Bears with a .342 batting average, 40 hits, 31 runs scored and 20 walks. Jake Tompkins paces Tech with 36 RBIs, 36 hits and five home runs, while Angel Leiva is batting .337 with 33 hits and 11 RBIs. Maddex Sims has totaled 37 hits, 23 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples and two home runs, and Cody Cooper has added 34 hits, nine doubles and 18 RBIs.
On the mound, WVU Tech owns a 2.01 WHIP. Marco Viteri Moran leads the staff with 47 strikeouts, Braedan Pakkala has 43, Cameron Lynch has 37 and Tate Martino has 33. Defensively, Angel Leiva, Joshua Tibbits, Nate Wolfe, Mason Everhart, Ethan Dylan Turner, Reece Patterson and several others own perfect fielding percentages, while Jake Tompkins has handled 248 total chances at a .984 clip.
What's Next
WVU Tech returns home Friday, April 24, to open a River States Conference series against Midway University at Linda K. Epling Stadium. First pitch is set for 3 p.m., with a doubleheader to follow Saturday, April 25, at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
