Baylor Baseball Tops West Virginia in First Game of Doubleheader

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Baylor baseball earned an 8-6 win over West Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Monongalia Ballpark to even the series in the first game of a doubleheader.  The Bears (20-23, 6-11) used a three-run home run by Josh Bissonette in the sixth inning to take down the Mountaineers (22-19, 7-9).

The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth on an Aaron Dodson fielder’s choice RBI and Justin Arrington two-out RBI single.  However, WVU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.

In the sixth, a double by Matt Menard and error that let Arrington reach set up Bissonette’s two-out, three-run homer.  An inning later, Steven McLean led off with a single, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Kameron Esthay.

WVU countered with two runs on two walks, a hit and run-scoring double play in the seventh to cut the BU lead to 6-4.  However, Richard Cunningham launch a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth to get the runs back for Baylor.

WVU tried to comeback in the ninth with two runs but it was all the Mountaineers could muster.

BU starter Daniel Castano (3-4) earned the win, allowing four runs on five hits and six walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Troy Montemayor picked up his 10^th save by getting one out in the ninth after giving up a hit. WVU starter Michael Grove (1-3) took the loss, giving up five runs (two earned) on seven hits with nine strikeouts in six innings.