OMAHA, Neb. — WVU Potomac State College alum Ben McDougal recorded the save in West Virginia’s College World Series debut on Friday.
The Mountaineers led Troy, 7-5, in the top of the ninth inning.
With two outs and a runner on, McDougal took over and got a pop-up at first base in three pitches to end the game.
“McDougal’s had ice water in his veins,” WVU head coach Steve Sabins said in the postgame press conference. “He’s a killer and one of the most quiet and humble guys. In every big moment he’s ever been put in, he’s basically been himself.”
McDougal pitched in two of WVU’s biggest games in program history during its run to the College World Series.
Against Kentucky, he struck out six across the game’s final five innings to keep the Mountaineers alive.
In the Super Regional against Cal Poly, McDougal retired the side in order to end the game and send West Virginia to the program’s first College World Series.
McDougal tossed 92 2/3 innings, posting a 4.56 ERA with 130 strikeouts in two seasons for the Catamounts.
West Virginia plays the winner of North Carolina and Ole Miss on Sunday at 6 p.m.