STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern baseball team opened its 2026 season Friday night against West Virginia in a tough matchup at J.I. Clements Stadium, falling 15-3 to the Mountaineers in the series opener.
The Eagles struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from senior Bryson Trammell that scored James McCoy. The advantage, however, was short-lived. West Virginia responded in the second inning and steadily built momentum, capitalizing on key hits and timely execution to flip the game in its favor.
The Mountaineers broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning, stretching the lead into double digits and putting Georgia Southern in a difficult position late in the game. West Virginia finished with 15 runs, using timely hitting and situational execution to maintain control throughout the finale.
On the mound, Dawson Montesa earned the win for West Virginia, working six innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven. His ability to command the zone and limit hard contact prevented the Eagles from sustaining rallies. GS utilized multiple relievers in an effort to slow the momentum, but the Mountaineers continued to find ways to produce offensively.
The Eagles totaled three runs on eight hits in the contest. While they showed flashes of offensive rhythm and competed in early counts, they were unable to string together consistent scoring threats against Motesa and the Mountaineer bullpen.
With the loss, Georgia Southern opens the season 0-1, while West Virginia improves to 1-0. The Eagles were swept 0-3 in the opening series and will look to regroup Tuesday when they host the No. 5 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m., and the game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
