WVU Baseball Falls 6-3 to Sooners, Stopping Win Streak at 10

WVU Baseball saw their ten-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, falling 6-3 to the Oklahoma Sooners.

Mountaineer starter Blaine Traxel pitched seven innings, giving up five runs and a pair of homers. 

West Virginia’s offense kept it close but couldn’t plate the tying run.

Sooners’ third baseman Anthony Mackenzie singled to center, and right fielder Bryce Madron hit his second home run of the series a pitch later as Oklahoma leapt to a 2-0 lead after three pitches.

Traxel then tightened up to allow just two hits over the next 15 outs of work before running into trouble in the sixth.

Mountaineers’ shortstop Tevin Tucker drew a full-count walk in the bottom of the first, stealing second then advancing to third on a sacrifice fly. Left fielder Landon Wallace pulled a singled to left as small ball closed the deficit to 2-1.

Back and Forth

The Mountaineers’ bats fell just as cold as the Sooners’ did, though, as they didn’t record another hit until there were two away in the fifth inning. Third baseman Ellis Garcia singled and designated hitter Sam White doubled down the left field line, but Sooners’ left fielder Kendall Pettisretrieved the ball in time to prevent Garcia from scoring. A pop up ended the threat.

Madron doubled to center in the sixth, and shortstop Dakota Harris homered to right center to take a 4-1 lead. 

Second baseman JJ Wetherholt began the bottom of the inning with a double. Wallace singled to put runners at the corners, and center fielder Braden Barry brought in a run on a sacrifice fly. Catcher Dayne Leonard singled to plate another run and make it 4-3.

Bottom 6 | Sooners 4, Mountaineers 3

Tack on one more courtesy of @dayne_leonard!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/rmweaQzGKk

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) May 6, 2023

Wetherholt hit a ground-rule double with two outs in the seventh, but the Mountaineers couldn’t score him. 

Traxel walked Madron to begin the eighth, ending his day. Madron stole second then took third on a groundout before scoring on a single. Another single, this one with the bases loaded, stretched the lead to 6-3.

Garcia singled to begin the ninth, but the Mountaineers couldn’t make anything of it. 

WVU Baseball moves to 35-12 on the season (12-5 Big 12). They take the field at 11am Sunday looking for the series win.