WVU Baseball Blows Another Lead, Walked Off 8-7 at Kansas State

WVU Baseball collapsed in the ninth inning for the second game in a row on Friday, May 9, allowing six runs on the way to an 8-7 walk-off loss at the hands of the Kansas State Wildcats.

Their last time out, the Mountaineers (39-9, 18-5 Big 12) fell 10-9 to Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, allowing five runs in the decisive ninth inning. This time, they led 7-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. They then allowed two infield hits and a throwing error at shortstop, allowing the Wildcats to claw back into the game. Kansas State loaded the bases before West Virginia recorded an out: a fielders’ choice tied the game, and a single to right field ended it.

Although Mountaineers’ starter Griffin Kirn churned through seven innings on a miniscule 77 pitches, the Wildcats got to him during his third time through the order. He allowed a two-run home run in the seventh inning, prompting head coach Steve Sabins to turn to closer Reese Bassinger for the last two innings rather than giving Kirn a chance at the complete game.

West Virginia’s offense, meanwhile, broke out in the fourth inning, logging one of each type of base hit in succession. Logan Sauve singled, Sam White doubled, and Jace Rinehart homered to put the Mountaineers ahead 3-0, then Chase Swain hit a one-out triple to continue the rally. Wildcats’ starter Jacob Frost rebounded with a pair of strikeouts, stranding Swain 90 feet from home plate.

Kansas State Keeps it Interesting

Kyle West doubled in the fifth, scoring on a Sauve single: they both logged three base hits on the evening. After the Wildcats got to Kirn in the seventh, West Virginia added two runs in the eighth to keep Kansas State at arm’s length, then West singled home Brodie Kresser in the ninth to make it 7-2.

They ended up needing the insurance as Bassinger ran into trouble in the bottom of the frame, allowing a leadoff homer before putting two runners in scoring position. An infield single plated another run, queuing Sabins to turn to Carson Estridge with the tying run at the plate and no outs.

Kresser committed a throwing error on a fielders’ choice as Kansas State made it 7-5 with runners at the corners. A single to third scored another run, then a wild pitch put the tying and winning runs in scoring position with no outs yet recorded.

WVU Baseball will continue their series with the Wildcats at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.