WVU Baseball Survives Massive Houston Comeback 9-8

WVU Baseball led 9-4 in the middle innings of their Saturday, April 12 win over the Houston Cougars. Instead of cruising to victory, the Mountaineers bullpen allowed four unanswered runs, turning a potential breezy victory into a nailbiter.

West Virginia (29-4, 9-3 Big 12) trailed 3-0 in the first inning after a wild pitch and a two-run homer from Cougars’ second baseman Coby DeJesus. Gavin Kelly pulled them even the following inning, piggybacking off a Grant Hussey RBI groundout with a two-run double down the line.

The Mountaineers stretched their lead to 9-4 with two run rallies in each of the next three innings, a Chase Swain triple and a Kyle West double providing much of the offensive fireworks, while Houston chased West Virginia starter Gavin Van Kempen from the game in the third inning after loading the bases, plating a run off a double play.

Cougars left fielder Malachi Lott clubbed a three-run homer off reliever Benjamin Hudson in the bottom of the fifth, then Houston walked in a run in the seventh after four straight free passes from Chase Swain, chasing him from the game and closing the gap to 9-8.

Got 'em at the plate to preserve the lead!

E8 | Mountaineers 9, Cougars 8 pic.twitter.com/oKEe9lWCuz

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 13, 2025

Carson Estridge entered and closed things out, although first baseman Grant Hussey had to relay home in the eighth inning, nailing the would-be tying run after Cougars’ center fielder Tre Broussard beat the throw on a single to shortstop. Estridge secured the save, recording seven outs on 30 pitches.

WVU Baseball will look for the road series sweep over Houston on Sunday, April 13 at 12:30 p.m.