HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Interstat) — The West Virginia Mountaineers used a three-run third inning and a parade of effective pitchers to secure a 3-1 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions in nonconference baseball action Wednesday at Hagerstown’s Municipal Stadium.

The game’s decisive moment came in the bottom of the third inning. Trailing 1-0 after West Virginia’s Jack Porter launched a solo home run to deep left field in the top of the second, the Nittany Lions mounted their only sustained offensive threat.

Penn State’s Connor Wills led off the frame with a triple to deep left field. After a walk to Matt Ineich, West Virginia starter Mason Butash was relieved by Harrison Lollin. Lollin was immediately met with a sacrifice fly from Brady Kelly that scored Wills to tie the game. Paul Schoenfeld then doubled, putting runners on second and third. Mason Smith followed with an infield single to the mound, driving in Ineich for the go-ahead run while Schoenfeld moved to third. Schoenfeld then scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat, providing the final margin.

That sequence proved to be Penn State’s only productive rally. The Nittany Lions managed six hits but went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base. Schoenfeld finished 2 for 4 with a home run and a double, accounting for half of Penn State’s extra-base hits.

West Virginia’s five-hit attack was led by Porter, who went 3 for 4 with the solo homer and a double. The Mountaineers struggled to capitalize with runners on, stranding seven.

The story of the game was the combined effort of six West Virginia pitchers, who stifled Penn State after the third inning. Lollin, who entered with two on and none out in the third, earned the win. He was followed by Dimond Loosli, Mason Horwat and Reese Bassinger, who combined for four innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. Bassinger recorded the final seven outs to earn the save.

Penn State’s pitching was also effective in a losing effort. Starter David Hagen allowed one run on two hits over three innings. Ian Korn took the loss, surrendering the two decisive runs in the third. Weston Smith provided three innings of scoreless relief.

The win improved West Virginia’s record to 25-8, while Penn State fell to 10-24. The victory defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had simulated a 7-5 Mountaineers win and gave West Virginia a 77.8% probability of victory based on its ELO rating.

West Virginia turned two double plays to erase potential threats, including one to end the top of the ninth inning. Penn State’s defense was error-free.

The Mountaineers return to conference play Friday, opening a three-game home series against Houston. Penn State begins a Big Ten series at home against Rutgers on Friday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in University Park, Pennsylvania, on April 29.