WVU Baseball Comes Up Short in Big 12 Opener

WVU Baseball couldn’t complete a comeback in their Big 12 opener on Friday, March 13, falling 7-6 at Baylor despite a ninth inning home run from shortstop Matt Ineich.

The Mountaineers (11-4, 0-1 Big 12) went ahead 4-1 with a three-run rally in the fourth inning but melted down in the bottom of the frame, surrendering five runs and never recovering. Designated hitter Sean Smith finished a triple shy of the cycle; he helped spark the fourth inning rally, hitting the second of back-to-back doubles with Brock Wills, but Wills only advanced one base on the play because it looked like the Bears would manage to retire Smith.

Bunts from Armani Guzman and Tyrus Hall put the Mountaineers in front, then Gavin Kelly singled to plate another run. West Virginia starter Dawson Montesa couldn’t hold onto the lead, walking the first two batters he faced as head coach Steve Sabins went to the bullpen. Reliever Reese Bassinger allowed his first five batters to reach, including a trio of RBI singles, as the Bears surged in front 6-4.

Smith smacked a home run in the sixth, keeping the deficit at two after another RBI single. Ineich cleared the fences with one out in the ninth before Kelly grounded out. Center fielder Paul Schoenfeld fanned on a dropped third strike and tried to steal first base in order to keep the game alive, but catcher Brayden Buchanan, a defensive substitution at the start of the inning, beat Schoenfeld with his throw to first and ended the game.

WVU Baseball will attempt to tie the series at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.