WVU Baseball Falls 7-3 to Texas, Settles for Share of Big 12 Title

WVU Baseball only managed to secure a share of the Big 12 regular season title on Saturday, falling to the Texas Longhorns 7-3 to complete their first three-game series sweep since 2021.

As they did in the previous games of the series, Texas built a massive lead early, allowing them to coast to the finish as the Mountaineers’ bats found their bearings. 

Starting pitcher Ben Hampton allowed five of the six batters he faced to reach, managing just one out before head coach Randy Mazey pulled him from the game. He was charged with four runs in that time, two of which came on a single allowed by reliever Aidan Major.

Major allowed one run apiece in the second and third innings, an RBI single and a solo homer from shortstop Jalin Flores, as Texas built a 6-0 lead.

Mountaineers Inch Back

West Virginia center fielder Braden Barry began the fourth with a solo shot as the Mountaineers started to chip away at the lead. 

Top 4 | Mountaineers 1, Longhorns 6@barry_braden gets a run back with his eighth homer of the season.#HailWV pic.twitter.com/rFCCY5aeRb

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) May 20, 2023

Right fielder Caleb McNeely singled in the seventh, and a home run from third baseman Sam White closed the deficit to 6-3. 

Top 7 | Mountaineers 3, Longhorns 6@samwhite116 gets WVU a little closer with a two-run shot!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/BsXudxWDuR

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) May 20, 2023

Mountaineers’ closer Carlson Reed loaded the bases in the eighth inning, allowing an RBI single that left fielder Landon Wallace cut off before more than one insurance run could score. A pair of infield ground balls allowed the Mountaineers’ defense to escape the inning without further damage done. 

McNeely walked and White wore a pitch to open the ninth. A fielder’s choice and a double play ended any potential rally, and the regular season.

Conference Implications 

WVU Baseball finishes the regular season 39-16 (15-9) Big 12). The Longhorns tied with a 15-9 Big 12 record thanks to the sweep, granting Texas a share of the conference title.
Oklahoma State, who entered the final day of the season with a 14-9 conference record (and a chance to tie for a share of the title because of it) led Oklahoma 4-1 in the top of the fifth as of the conclusion of West Virginia’s game, setting up a three-way tie for the regular season title should that margin hold.