No. 5 TCU Blows Past WVU, 8-2, in Series Opener

West Virginia dominated the first four innings against No. 5 TCU Friday evening, but the Horned Frogs found their way in the final five innings and defeated the Mountaineers 8-2 in their series-opener.

WVU starter Jackson Wolf did not allow a hit and stuck out nine batters through the first four innings Friday. On offense, WVU picked up a run early against TCU starter Russell Smith. An RBI double by second baseman Tyler Doanes gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

In the fifth, however, TCU scored three runs on a walk and three singles, aided by some defensive miscues by the Mountaineers.

“[The difference was] we didn’t have a defensive meltdown in the first four innings,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said after the game.

West Virginia got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by right fielder Austin Davis, but missed an opportunity for more by hitting into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

TCU added a run in the sixth, another in the eighth and three more in the ninth to cruise past the Mountaineers 8-2. Wolf (3-5, 3.69) took the loss, allowing four runs in six full innings of work with 11 strikeouts. TCU reliever Drew Hill (2-0, 3.54) got the win, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Davis finished 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored and catcher Paul McIntosh finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. TCU second baseman Gray Rodgers went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored.

WVU and TCU will play game two of their three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. from Mon County Ballpark.