MORGANTOWN — No. 13 West Virginia completed its road trip through the state of Arizona on Tuesday night by manufacturing its way to a 7-4 victory over Big 12 foe Arizona in a nonconference game inside Hi Corbett Field in Tucson.

The Mountaineers (20-5) were limited to just five hits and stranded 11 runners on base, but still earned their 31st consecutive season with at least 20 victories – not including the COVID-19 season of 2020.

Getting there required solid pitching and then taking advantage of an Arizona pitching staff that walked 10 and plunked two more WVU batters. One of those hit-by-pitches came with the bases loaded to score a run. Paul Schoenfeld took one for the team for the RBI.

WVU scored another run when Matt Ineich scored from second base on a wild pitch. Schoenfeld scored another run after an Arizona (9-19) fielding error and Sean Smith picked up a fielder’s choice RBI with a groundout to third base with the bases loaded.

Ineich’s two-run single in the fifth inning were the only runs scored off a clean hit for the Mountaineers.

WVU’s pitching told a better story.

David Hagen started and went three innings and allowed just one hit and two runs. He walked two and struck out two, but allowed a two-run home run by Carson McEntire in the second inning that gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Carson Estridge and Reese Bassinger combined for six innings of relief with each pitcher allowing just one run. Estridge (2-0) earned the win. He went 2.1 innings and gave up four hits and struck out five. Bassinger earned his first save of the season by going 3.2 innings. He allowed two hits and struck out five.

In all, WVU pitchers recorded 12 strikeouts in the game.

WVU catcher Gavin Kelly saw his 18-game hit streak come to an end. He was 0 for 4 but walked once, making it his 21st consecutive game he’s reached base.

The Mountaineers now return home for a showdown against No. 23 UCF (18-8) for a three-game series that begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Kendrick Family Ballpark.

The Knights are 8-1 in Big 12 play, while the Mountaineers are in second place at 7-2. The series features the two top pitching teams in the Big 12. WVU ranks first in the conference in team ERA (3.99), while UCF is second at 4.24.