MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Interstat) — The West Virginia Mountaineers unleashed a relentless offensive barrage Wednesday evening, erasing an early five-run deficit to rout the Ohio Bobcats 19-6 at Kendrick Family Ballpark.

The game’s decisive turn came in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Ohio pitchers had struggled with command, walking three batters in the frame, West Virginia right fielder Brock Wills stepped to the plate with two on and two out. He crushed a three-run homer off Ohio reliever Hunter Brooks, transforming a 6-6 tie into a 9-6 Mountaineer lead and igniting what would become a runaway victory.

That blast was the centerpiece of an offensive showcase for West Virginia (6-1), which pounded out 16 hits. Shortstop Matthew Ineich led the charge, going 4 for 5 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs, continuing a strong start to his season. Paul Schoenfeld added a triple, a double and three RBIs, while Matthew Graveline contributed a two-run homer.

The Bobcats (1-7) struck first, capitalizing on control issues by West Virginia starter David Hagen. Ohio loaded the bases in the first inning without a hit, using a hit-by-pitch and two walks, but could only push across a single run on a fielder’s choice groundout by Schoenfeld.

Ohio then erupted for five runs in the top of the second against reliever Ethan Stewart. The big blow was a two-run triple by Schoenfeld that capped the inning, giving the Bobcats a surprising 6-1 advantage.

West Virginia immediately began chipping away, scoring two in the second and one in the third, with Ineich driving in a run on a groundout to tie the game at 6-6. After Wills’ go-ahead homer in the fourth, the Mountaineers never looked back, adding two more in the sixth on Graveline’s homer and then breaking the game open with a five-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Ineich.

The Mountaineers tacked on five more in the eighth inning off a pair of Ohio relievers, with pinch-hitter Colton Sims delivering a two-run double and Ryan Maggy adding a two-run single.

Ohio’s offense, which managed nine hits, was led by second baseman Will Henson, who went 2 for 3 with three RBIs. The Bobcats’ early lead was undone by a bullpen that combined to allow 18 runs over the final seven innings.

West Virginia’s bullpen proved dominant after the rocky start. Following Hagen’s two-inning outing, six relievers combined for seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. Bryson Thacker, Bryant Yoak and David Hagen were particularly effective, each tossing a perfect inning of relief.

The victory extends West Virginia’s strong early-season form, while Ohio continues to search for consistency after dropping its seventh game in eight outings.

West Virginia is scheduled to begin a three-game series at Kennesaw State on Friday. Ohio returns home to open a four-game set against Dayton on Friday.