MORGANTOWN – The Buckhannon-Upshur baseball team built an early 6-1 lead against the homestanding University Hawks in their season debut Friday night but couldn’t maintain that advantage dropping a 12-7 contest.
The Bucs took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Zach Calef-Boring opened the game with a single to left field, went to second on a walk to Cam Tenney, moved to third when Ian Donnen was hit by a pitch and scored on a ground out by Landon Marple.
University tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first but the Bucs pushed across five runs in the top of the third for their 6-1 lead.
The big hit in the inning came from Chris Crites who blasted a three-run home run while Elijah Bryant had a one-run single and Cam Tenney scored on an error after drawing a walk. Isaac Lane also hit a double in the inning for the Bucs.
The lead didn’t last long for B-U as University chased across seven runs in the bottom of the third taking their first lead of the game, at 8-6.
B-U made it an 8-7 contest in the top of the fifth when Marple started the frame with a single and later scored on a single by Josh Nesbitt.
The Bucs couldn’t get any closer as University scored four times in the bottom of the sixth for their 12-7 lead.
The game was sloppy defensively on both ends as both teams committed six errors.
Only seven of University’s 12 runs were earned.
The Bucs collected six hits in the setback with Calef-Boring, Lane, Marple, Bryant, Crites and Nesbitt each getting one.
Lane (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound getting the start and going 2 2/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and fanned three.
Aaron Forbes paced University’s 12-hit attack with a pair of solo home runs.
Cody Thomas picked up the win for the Hawks going four innings. He gave up six earned runs on five hits in four innings of work.
University improved to 1-1 on the season while the Bucs dropped to 0-1.
Buckhannon-Upshur will be back in action Monday visiting Lincoln for a Big 10 Conference game.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The boxscore:
Buckhannon-Upshur 105 010 0 – 7
University 107 004 x – 12
E – Buckhannon-Upshur 6; University 6. DP – University. LoB – Buckhannon-Upshur 7; University 7. 2B – Lane, McDonough, Campbell 2. HR – Crites, Forbes. SB – Bryant 2, Calef-Boring, Marple, Latocha, Thomas. Sac. – Tenney.
Hitting
Buckhannon-Upshur – Zach Calef-Boring ss, 4 1 1 0; Cameron Tenney 2b, 0 1 0 0; Isaac Lane p-lf,4 1 1 0; Ian Donnen c, 3 0 0 0; Landon Marple cf-p, 4 2 1 1; Elijah Bryant rf, 3 1 1 1; Clint Crites 3b, 3 1 1 3; Josh Nesbitt 1b, 3 0 1 1; Ryan Snyder 1b, 1 0 0 0; Payton Bennett lf-cf, 3 0 0 0; Brayden Hamer p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 28 7 6 6.
University – Wenkai Campbell cf, 4 2 2 0; Cody Thomas p, 4 0 1 1; Chase George p, 0 0 0 0; Aaron Forbes 3b, 4 2 2 2; Noah Braham 1b, 3 2 1 0; Jake Croston dh, 4 2 1 0; Gabe Templeton rf, 1 0 0 0; Brock McDonough rf, 3 2 2 2; Brodee Latocha 2b, 4 0 2 2; Park Croyle c, 4 1 2 1; Jackson Oleska cr, 0 0 0 0; Jett Walters ss, 1 2 1 1. Totals 34 12 13 8.
Pitching
Buckhannon-Upshur – Lane (L, 0-1): 2 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 7 runs, 3 earned runs, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 wild pitch; 1 balk; Marple: 2 1/3 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 1 wild pitch, 1 hit batter (Braham); Hamer: 1 inning, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, 1 balk.
University – Thomas (W, 1-0): 4 innings, 5 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 wild pitch; 1 hit batsman (Donnen); George: 3 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 balk.
