West Virginia
End of an era: West Virginia falls 2-1 to Tar Heels in Mazey's final game as head coach – WV MetroNews
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — When West Virginia earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, there were no shortage of question marks regarding the team’s pitching staff outside of ace Derek Clark.
Tyler Switalski and Carson Estridge provided answers and then some to many of those questions, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Mountaineers’ season from ending Saturday night in a 2-1 loss to No. 4 North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium.
“That’s the best Switalski has pitched as a Mountaineer for him to do that on this stage,” WVU head coach Randy Mazey said following the final game of his coaching career. “These kids in this West Virginia program will remember this feeling watching the other team dogpile and that kind of stuff drives you. They’re going to have to drive without ole coach Maze. But they’ll remember this feeling. The first time you play in a super regional, it’s hard. This is the natural progression of a program.”
Vance Honeycutt led off the contest with a home run on the game’s first pitch with the Tar Heels serving as the road team in their home stadium, but it was the right arm of freshman Jason DeCaro that was instrumental in leading UNC (47-14) to its 12th appearance in a College World Series and first since 2018.
DeCaro, who enrolled early at UNC after bypassing his senior year of high school, was dominant throughout. He worked 6 1/3 innings and limited the Mountaineers to two hits, including one over the first six innings.
“He’s a special kid. Ultra competitive,” UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. “He gave up his senior year of high school because he trusted us.”
For DeCaro, it was important to put forth a better showing Saturday than what he displayed over two appearances last week when he was tagged for five runs in six innings.
“The biggest thing is I wasn’t too happy with last weekend and the coaches were great helping me out, working with me and helping me stay within myself,” DeCaro said. “All credit to them for giving me the game plan to go out there and do it.”
The Tar Heels’ first sign of trouble came in the seventh with a 2-0 lead.
Reed Chumley’s one-out single marked the end of DeCaro’s memorable outing, and although reliever Dalton Pence struck out Grant Hussy upon entering, he then walked Spencer Barnett and surrendered a single to Kyle West that allowed the Mountaineers (36-24) to cut their deficit in half.
Pence struck out Ben Lumsden to keep UNC in front through seven frames.
WVU relief pitcher Carson Estridge, who entered with two on and one out in the seventh, escaped a bases loaded jam that inning before preventing the Tar Heels from scoring in the eighth and ninth as well.
“We said going into it we’re playing with house money because we’d never been this far as a program,” Mazey said. “That doesn’t mean it’s OK to lose, but you can play more relaxed. We did. We played relaxed and confident. I don’t think there was a doubt from anybody in our dugout that we’d win this game.”
While Pence retired the Mountaineers in order in the eighth, they put together quite a threat in the ninth.
Sam White accounted for a leadoff single and after Chumley struck out, pinch runner Armani Guzman advanced to second on a wild pitch. Grant Hussey then worked a walk to put the winning run on base, before pinch hitter Ellis Garcia was caught looking on a 2-2 pitch.
But when West worked a walk on a full count offering, the winning run was in scoring position for Lumsden.
Yet Pence maintained his poise and induced a ground ball to first base for the final out, which he recorded after taking a throw from Harber, allowing the Tar Heels to dogpile in celebration on the mound.
“I’m not a runner. I had to dig it pretty good to get over there,” Pence said. “After I caught the ball and hit the bag, just an unbelievable feeling and we’re going to Omaha.”
Switalski got off to an inauspicious start when he surrendered a home run to Honeycutt, the leadoff batter’s single-season program record 26th this season, which came one night after he belted a two-run walk-off home run in an 8-6 UNC win.
The southpaw settled in from there and retired eight straight battled until the second out of the third inning.
“First pitch caught a little too much of the zone. I had to redial it back in and keep competing,” Switalski said. “Kept competing and going down the order.”
With two outs in the third, Honeycutt alertly bunted for a single, which was followed by consecutive singles from Casey Cook and Parks Harber, the latter of which allowed Honeycutt to score what proved to be the winning run.
“In that inning there were two quick outs in front of me. I was trying to get it to the next guy and that was a good opportunity for me to do it with them shifting three guys to the other side,” Honeycutt said of the bunt single.
WVU’s offense, meanwhile, struggled mightily to produce. Brodie Kresser’s second-inning single marked the Mountaineers’ lone hit through six innings, and Kresser was forced to leave ahead of the fourth inning due to an injury he suffered while sliding into second on a stolen base.
Kresser was replaced by Barnett, before Garcia pinch hit for him in the ninth.
West Virginia looked to have a shot at the tying run reaching base in the eighth, but Skylar King’s well-struck fly ball was tracked down by Honeycutt in right-center.
“I’ve been saying since the beginning of the season he’s the best player in the country and I really believe that,” Forbes said.
The result brings an end to West Virginia’s season as well as Mazey’s coaching career, with the veteran skipper having announced last summer that this would be his final season.
Mazey finishes with 558 career wins and a 372-275 record over 12 seasons with the Mountaineers.
“I told my guys out there in my 35 years of coaching, that’s the team I want to end my career with,” Mazey said. “I love every one of them and I think they know that. The way we coach is I don’t care if you don’t get hits or throw strikes, I won’t love you any less. When kids play that way, it enables them to play more free.”
Randy Mazey met by daughter Sierra and wife Amanda following his last game as head coach. pic.twitter.com/NU1QmgXZ6q
— Greg Carey (@gcarey938) June 9, 2024
Pence threw the final 2 2/3 innings after replacing DeCaro. He struck out six, walked three and yielded two hits.
“He’s one of the best relievers in the country,” Mazey said.
Switlaski, who did not log more than five innings in any regular season appearance, had his second straight strong outing in the postseason. After throwing 7 2/3 innings in a win last week against Grand Canyon, the southpaw limited the Tar Heels to two runs over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four, walked one and allowed five hits.
“On a big stage,” Switalski said, “you have to have confidence and not let the moment scare you.”
Estridge worked 2 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings in relief with six strikeouts.
Honeycutt, who finished 2-for-4, was the only player in the game with more than one hit.
Mountaineer standout shortstop JJ Wetherholt was hitless in four at bats and struggled over five NCAA Tournament games, going 4-for-20 without an extra-base hit.
“I wanted to win this one so bad and it’s how the game goes sometimes,” Wetherholt said. “It’s a tough game.”
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West Virginia
Penn State football-West Virginia weather updates: Latest on Lions’ delayed football game
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Penn State’s new offensive coordinator talks Beau Pribula’s ‘elite athleticism’
The Central York grad and redshirt sophomore QB is poised to play a bigger role in a revamped offense under first-year OC Andy Kotelnicki.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. − The new, improved Penn State football offense was beginning to fide its stride in the season-opener before a weather delay shut everything down.
Thunderstorms with potential lightning rolling in from the West forced a stoppage of play here at halftime of Top 10 Penn State’s uneven but still overall impressive start against the West Virginia Mountaineers in Milan Puskar Stadium.
The game was suspended a few minutes into the break after a lightning strike was reported nearby. The stadium was evacuated with most seeking shelter under the stands.
A re-start time has not yet been announced.
Penn State is on the verge of pulling away, ahead 20-6 at the half, led by the Drew Allar-to-Tre Wallace-connection on offense and the dynamic safety combination of Jaylen Reed and KJ Winston on defense.
Allar completed 8-of-13 first-half passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns − nearly all of the work going to the finally-healthy Wallace. The junior wideout pulled in five of those passes for 117 yards and two scores.
On defense, Reed and Winston each had eight tackles in the first half. Reed was the top defender on the field with a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Penn State’s last weather delay?
That was in 2017 at Michigan State. Lighting strikes caused that eventual last-play loss to the Spartans to be delayed by three hours and 22 minutes.
Penn State football vs. West Virginia weather updates
This section will be updated. All times Eastern.
2:04 p.m.: Penn State’s season-opener at West Virginia is delayed for an impending storm with lightning strikes shortly after halftime begins.
2:30 p.m.: Heavy rains washing over Milan Puskar Stadium. Stadium announcer reveals that re-start game clock will not begin for at least another 30 minutes.
3:05 p.m.: Lightning strikes force the 30-minute weather delay clock to re-start once more. Officials have not yet determined when the game plans to resume, according to the stadium announcer.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
West Virginia
Gameday Coverage: No. 8 Penn State Vs. West Virginia
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It’s finally here, folks.
Penn State opens its season Saturday against West Virginia at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. In the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff, the Nittany Lions are facing immense pressure to earn their spot in the 12-team field.
Before that, though, James Franklin and Co. first have to get past the Mountaineers. Here’s everything you need to know about today’s season opener.
Television
After being the featured FOX game twice last year, Penn State will open the 2024 season on the network for Big Noon Kickoff. Gus Johnson will provide the play-by-play while Joel Klatt will provide color commentary with Jenny Taft as the sideline reporter.
Radio
Penn State Sports Network — Steve Jones and Jack Hamm
Local: 99.5 & 103.7 FM/ 1450 AM, Sirius/XM/Internet: 83/83/80
Weather
Saturday will be a mix of clouds and sun with an 86% chance of precipitation and a high of 86º, according to AccuWeather. There is also a chance of a late thunderstorm, which could delay the football game.
Last Meeting
Penn State opened its season last year at home against West Virginia, winning 38-15. In his debut as the starting quarterback, Drew Allar racked up 325 yards and three touchdowns.
Injuries
Over the offseason, Franklin said both quarterback Jaxon Smolik and wide receiver Peter Gonzalez suffered “long-term” injuries and would miss significant time. On Monday, Franklin said wide receiver and punt returner Kaden Saunders was dealing with some “bumps and bruises,” but was hopeful for Saturday’s game.
Betting Lines
The Nittany Lions are -8.5-point favorites over West Virginia with a -316 moneyline, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 51.5 points.
Media Coverage
Onward State will have you covered throughout today’s game. Find big plays, analysis, photos, and more on our main Twitter account @OnwardState as well as play-by-play commentary from @OnwardStSports.
Football writers CJ Doebler (@CDoebler) and Mitch Corcoran (@MitchCorc18) will provide you with coverage from inside the press box, while Nolan Wick (@nolan_wick) will do the same from State College.
Photographers Hailey Stutzman (@stutzhailey) and Mikey DeAngelis (@mikey_deangelis) will provide visual updates from the field.
Onward State
West Virginia
Nick Saban breaks down West Virginia vs. Penn State Week 1 showdown
![Nick Saban breaks down West Virginia vs. Penn State Week 1 showdown Nick Saban breaks down West Virginia vs. Penn State Week 1 showdown](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/30145457/West-Virginia-Penn-State.png)
Penn State Vs West Virginia Game Predictions
The Penn State vs. West Virginia rivalry will renew on Saturday as the Mountaineers host James Franklin’s club in Morgantown. West Virginia fans are fired up for the matchup and showed up and showed out as former WVU player Pat McAfee hosted his show in Morgantown on Friday.
McAfee had West Virginia native and ESPN analyst Nick Saban on to preview the matchup and discuss a number of topics. Saban believes the Mountaineers are capable of pulling off the upset.
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“Well, I think West Virginia’s proven that they can run the ball effectively against just about anybody they play. I think that’s going to be the challenge for them against Penn State,” Nick Saban said. “Penn State’s a pretty good defensive team and they like to pressure a lot and create negative plays. So I think if the quarterback for West Virginia can create a little balance in the game for them, throw the ball effectively, that’ll have a huge impact on the game.”
Garrett Greene is the West Virginia starting quarterback and he’s getting a little Heisman buzz after accounting for more than 3,100 total yards and scoring 29 total touchdowns in 12 games a year ago.
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The dual-sport star could give Penn State some issues, as could the WVU crowd.
Saban discussed how the energy and noise in Morgantown could give Penn State some trouble.
“There’s a buzzsaw in Morgantown. That’s a hard place to play,” Saban said. “The fans there have great passion. It’s going to make it very difficult for Penn State, especially in the opener, to manage the noise, to manage the game, to be able to stay focused on execution and not get sidetracked by any of the other things that are going on, because it’s going to be difficult for them.”
Saban added that the fact that the game is the opener for Penn State will make it even more difficult.
Penn State does have a veteran at quarterback in junior Drew Allar, but there are some young players on the Nittany Lions roster who will have to step up in a tough environment.
“You’re always worried as a coach in your first game about how your team’s going to execute,” Saban said. “And that’s going to be really, really the challenge for them, playing on the road, at West Virginia, in the first game.”
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