STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — West Virginia opened its season with a commanding 15-3 victory over Georgia Southern at J. I. Clements Stadium on Friday.

The Mountaineers, favored to win, amassed 12 hits and capitalized on four Eagles errors to pull away. Georgia Southern scored single runs in the first, second and fourth innings but was held to five hits total.

West Virginia broke open a 3-2 game with a five-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Gavin Kelly and a two-run double by Armani Guzman. The Mountaineers added four unearned runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth, with Matthew Ineich driving in a pair with a triple.

West Virginia (1-0) and Georgia Southern (0-1) continue their series with a doubleheader Saturday.