WVU Baseball, Yehl Drop Pitchers Duel at Texas Tech

No. 17 WVU Baseball enjoyed a strong start from left-handed Maxx Yehl against the Big 12’s top offense, but it wasn’t enough for them to avoid a 4-1 loss at Texas Tech on Saturday, April 11.

Yehl managed 7.1 innings on 113 pitches, striking out eight batters and issuing just one walk. Mountaineers (23-8, 9-5 Big 12) head coach Steve Sabins gave Yehl the hook after he allowed consecutive singles in the eighth inning; reliever Reese Bassinger allowed both inherited runners to score — although a Matt Graveline throwing error didn’t do Bassinger any favors — and Texas Tech managed to surge ahead 4-1.

Armani Guzman doubled with one out in the ninth, but a groundout and a strikeout ended the game.

Yehl and Red Raiders starter Jackson Burns (7.2 innings, one earned run) dueled for much of the game: West Virginia put a runner on second three times in the first six innings but couldn’t break through: Matthew Robaugh got stranded after a fifth inning double and Gavin Kelly got picked off first in the following inning, rendering Sean Smith’s subsequent double harmless.

Texas Tech broke through with three singles in the seventh. A Kelly solo shot tied the game soon thereafter, but West Virginia couldn’t hang onto the lead.

WVU Baseball will attempt to take the series at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 12.