The bats were on fire at Harford Community College on Friday as WVU Potomac State opened the Region 20 Division 1 tournament with a thrilling 16-8 run-rule victory over Monroe University. The game was a back-and-forth slugfest that saw the lead change hands before Potomac State exploded in the seventh inning.

After Monroe (19-27) tied the game at 8-8 on an RBI double from Jason Guzman, Potomac State responded in emphatic fashion. The bottom of the seventh inning turned into a scoring frenzy, with the Catamounts plating eight runs to seize control. Dylan Rice, Seth Healy (Keyser), and Braden Sloan each delivered RBI hits, but the biggest blow came from Lex Wescott, who crushed a three-run home run to break the game wide open.

The long ball was a recurring theme for Potomac State (33-12), as Wescott's blast was one of three homers on the day. Callen Miller and Dylan Rice also went deep, while Monroe's Jesus Nieves provided the Mustangs' lone home run. The game ended fittingly on a walk-off error, as a two-out miscue on a grounder from Peyton Blue allowed John Mallow (Petersburg) to race home and trigger the mercy rule.

On the mound, Keyser graduate Evan Jenkins was the hero in relief, tossing two strong innings and limiting Monroe to just one run on three hits to earn the win. The victory sets up a marquee matchup for Potomac State, as they'll face top-seeded Harford Community College (49-5) on Saturday at noon. With the double-elimination format, the Catamounts are guaranteed another game at 3 p.m., regardless of the first result—but after this offensive showcase, they'll be swinging for the fences.