WVU Baseball Loses Second Straight to Texas 10-4

WVU Baseball fell to the Texas Longhorns for the second straight day on Friday, losing 10-4 in Austin.

Texas starter Lebarron Johnson punched out 11 batters over 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs as the Longhorns hit four homers to open a massive lead. 

Second baseman JJ Wetherholt singled in the first, 

but got caught too far between first and second, leading to a successful pickoff on the play from Texas right fielder Dylan Campbell.

The play cost West Virginia a run, as left fielder Landon Wallace roped a homer to left field during the next at-bat to take a 1-0 lead.

That's the way to get this game started Lando!@landonwallace puts the Mountaineers up 1-0 early with a 💣#HailWV pic.twitter.com/8Ziu3nBuo8

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) May 19, 2023

Longhorns Leap Ahead

Texas’ first three batters reached via two singles and a ground-rule RBI double from Campbell to tie the game at one. A sacrifice fly gave the Longhorns the lead, and center fielder Eric Kennedy hit a home run to open a 4-1 advantage.

The onslaught continued in the second as first baseman Jared Thomas hit a two-run blast, followed by a solo shot from Campbell that made it 7-1.

West Virginia loaded the bases with no outs in the third. Two strikeouts made it look like they’d go down empty handed, but center fielder Braden Barry raced out an infield single to scratch across a run, closing the gap to 7-2.

The Longhorns plated another run in the fourth with an RBI single. 

Mountaineer catcher Dayne Leonard caught a runner stealing in the sixth, saving a run as third baseman Peyton Powell homered later in the at-bat.

Texas made up for it in the seventh, though, as a one-out walk moved to third on a Leonard error, coming around to score on a single to make it 10-2.

Mountaineer reliever Noah Short entered after the single, securing a program record with his 73rd career relief appearance.

First baseman Grant Hussey singled and right fielder Caleb McNeely doubled in the ninth. Sam White plated them both with a pinch-hit single, but the rally died there for a 10-4 finish.

Conference Implications 

WVU Baseball moves to 39-15 on the season (15-8) Big 12. Their regular season concludes on Saturday at 3:30pm in Austin, when they look to avoid a sweep. Texas would tie the Mountaineers with the same conference record with another win, meaning West Virginia needs a win tomorrow to stave them off. Oklahoma State lost to stay a game back, while Kansas State’s loss eliminated them from contention.