MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Interstat) — The Columbia Lions, entering Friday’s game with just one win on the young season, defied heavy statistical odds and a potent West Virginia lineup to secure a 7-4 victory over the Mountaineers at Kendrick Family Ballpark.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded under evening lights, saw the Lions snap a four-game skid by building a large early lead and weathering a late West Virginia rally. Columbia improved to 2-4, while the Mountaineers fell to 8-4.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the top of the second inning, where the Lions’ offense erupted to seize control. After a quiet first inning, Columbia’s bats came alive against West Virginia starter J.J. Montesa. Matt Fellows led off with a double, and after a strikeout, Ben Vogler walked. Ben Fishel then delivered the key blow, lacing a two-run double down the left field line to open the scoring.

The Lions were far from done. After a single and a walk loaded the bases, Jackson Brewer struck out, bringing shortstop Jack Kail to the plate with two outs. Kail ripped a single up the middle, driving in two more runs. The rally continued when Michael Estabrook followed with an RBI single through the right side, plating a fifth run in the frame. The inning transformed a scoreless game into a commanding 5-0 Columbia lead, providing crucial cushion for a pitching staff facing a West Virginia team that had averaged over eight runs per game in its previous ten contests.

Columbia starter Alex Sotiropoulos capitalized on the support, holding the Mountaineers hitless through the first three innings. West Virginia finally broke through in the fifth, scoring twice, with one run coming home on a groundout by J.J. Hall and another scoring on a throwing error by Kail.

The Mountaineers chipped away further in the sixth, capitalizing on a Columbia error and a wild pitch to make it 7-3. They added another run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Gavin Kelly, cutting the deficit to 7-4 and putting pressure on the Lions’ bullpen.

However, Columbia relievers Baylor Hicks and Payton Soske slammed the door. Hicks worked a scoreless seventh and eighth, and after Soske allowed a leadoff triple in the ninth, he responded by striking out the next two batters and inducing a game-ending groundout to secure the victory.

Offensively, Columbia out-hit West Virginia 10-5. Fishel and Kail each drove in two runs, with Kail’s two-out, two-run single in the second proving to be the game’s pivotal hit. Brewer added an insurance RBI double in the ninth. For West Virginia, Kelly had an RBI and a double.

The win was a significant upset according to pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 7-4 West Virginia victory, and its ELO system gave the Mountaineers a 75.20 percent probability to win.

The two teams continue their three-game series on Saturday.