COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Logan Suave continued to make an early impact and WVU defeated its first nonconference Top 25 team since 2021 with an 8-6 victory over No. 13 Maryland at Bob Smith Stadium on Tuesday.
Suave, a freshman designated hitter from Boiling Springs Pa., went 2 for 5 and drove in three runs to get WVU (2-2) its first victory over a ranked nonconference opponent since beating then-No. 17 Pitt on May 5, 2021.
With Caleb McNeely and Dayne Leonard in scoring position, Suave singled up the middle to score them both in the top of the first, all part of a big inning that helped the Mountaineers take an early 5-0 lead.
McNeely’s double earlier scored J.J. Wetherholt and Braden Barry and Suave made it 5-0 when he later scored when Barry walked with the bases loaded.
Suave’s third RBI of the game came on a fielder’s choice grounder in the second that scored McNeely.
In just his fourth game in college, Suave is batting .417.
He got plenty of help in this one, too.
McNeely’s two RBIs give him six over his first four games after coming to WVU this season via Walters State (Tenn.) Community College, where he slugged 25 home runs last season.
Wetherholt and freshman third baseman Ellis Garcia also added two hits and Sam White and Tevin Tucker both hit solo home runs for the Mountaineers.
It was all enough for WVU starter Robby Porco a 6-foot-8 righty freshman, who was making his first career collegiate start.
Porco (1-0) went five innings and allowed five hits and two runs, while striking out three.
After Aidan Major had a shaky relief appearance — five hits and three runs over one inning — David Hagaman pitched two innings of scoreless relief and Keegan Allen picked up the save.
WVU is now headed out west to face Arizona in a three-game series that begins at 8 p.m. Friday.
