West Virginia to face Canisius in home opener – Blue Gold Sports

On Wednesday, the WVU baseball team will host Canisius in a single-game series with first pitch set for 3 p.m. EST.

The Mountaineers have split each of their first two series, coming off of two-straight losses to Charlotte over the weekend after taking the first two games. Catcher Logan Sauve produced offensively for the Mountaineers with star shortstop JJ Wetherholt out with a grade one hamstring strain he sustained last Monday.

On Saturday, in the first game of the doubleheader alone (7 inns), Sauve picked up four hits in four at-bats, including two home runs, batting in five of West Virginia’s eight runs.

On Sunday, WVU held a sizeable lead for most of the game, but in the bottom of the eighth inning, unforeseen events gave the 49ers the lead. The Mountaineers could not produce a spark in the top of the ninth, resulting in a loss and didn’t have one extra-base hit the whole game, striking out 11 times.

As for Canisius, they’re coming off of a 8-5 win over Gardner-Webb on Sunday. They have only hit three homeruns this season compared to that of 11 for West Virginia.

Infielder Trent Rumely has been the most efficient offensively for the Griffs this season. In 15 at-bats, he has five hits, including one homer, scoring five runs and batting in five with one stolen base.

The pitching matchup for Wednesday will be RHP Gavin Van Kempen for West Virginia vs RHP Joe Lopinto for Canisius.

This season, Van Kempen is 1-1 for WVU, in 2.1 innings pitched he has allowed 3 earned runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out four. Last season as a freshman, the 6-foot-6 righty, pitched 26.1 innings, allowing 15 ER, on 23 hits and 13 walks, with 21 strikeouts, having a record of 3-0 for the Mountaineers.

Lopinto, the freshman from East Hanover, New Jersey will be making his collegiate debut.

The game will be streamed to ESPN+.