WVU Baseball Claims Back-and-Forth Win With Ninth Inning Rally

WVU Baseball opened their weekend series at Texas Tech with a 12-8 win, pummeling the Red Raiders for six runs in the ninth in order to emerge victorious.

The Mountaineers (23-7, 9-4 Big 12) led 3-1 after three innings and 6-5 after seven, but Texas Tech fought back to erase their advantage each time. West Virginia broke the ice in the second inning with a two out rally, Tyrus Hall singling Brock Wills home and then forcing an errant throw that helped scratch another run across.

The Red Raiders got one back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single, but center fielder Paul Schoenfeld’s throw home wiped away another run and ended the inning. Texas Tech then surged in front 5-3 in the fifth, pummeling West Virginia starter Dawson Montesa for five hits. While Montesa allowed 11 hits on the day, he soldiered through seven innings and 130 pitches, helping to preserve his team’s bullpen for the rest of the series.

Late Inning Drama

West Virginia’s offense, similarly, had Montesa’s back, a three run rally in the seventh putting them back on top; Gavin Kelly notched an RBI single and Sean Smith doubled home two more, a trio of two-out hits extended the rally.

Head coach Steve Sabins turned to Reese Bassinger for the eighth, then phoned the bullpen for David Perez after Bassinger let a pair of runners aboard. Perez allowed the tying run on a groundout, setting the table for his offense’s heroics.

The Mountaineers first six batters reached in the ninth, a Matt Graveline single establishing the lead. Hall drew a bases loaded walk and Matt Ineich cleared the bags with a double… much-needed insurance as Texas Tech plated two runs in the ninth. Carson Estridge sealed the win with a pickoff throw to third.

WVU Baseball will continue their series in Lubbock, Texas at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11.