By: Shanna Rose
HOUSTON, Texas–The West Virginia University baseball team defeated Houston 9-8 on Saturday night at Schroeder Park.
Sam White and Gavin Kelly each had three hits for the Mountaineers. Kyle West, Chase Swain and Kelly all drove in two runs for the Mountaineers (29-4, 6-3 Big 12).
Benjamin Hudson (2-0) earned the win and Carson Estridge earned his second save of the season.
The Cougars (19-16, 5-9) scored four runs in the final five innings but their rally fell short.
Houston jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. A wild pitch scored one run and then Coby DeJesus blasted a two-run home run to left field.
As usual, WVU didn’t stay down long. With the bases loaded Grant Hussey’s ground out score Jace Rinehart. Then Kelly’s double down the left field line scored two runs and made it a 3-3 contest.
The Mountaineers took a 5-3 lead in the third when Swain hit his second triple in two nights and plated White and West.
In the bottom of the frame, WVU ran into trouble when Gavin Van Kempen gave up back-to-back singles. The Mountaineers got a much-needed double play next but Aaron Lugo scored on the play and pulled the Cougars within one.
Van Kempen, walked the next batter and gave up a base hit before his night ended. Hudson came on in relief and hit the next batter to load the bases before striking out Cade Climie to end the inning.
In the fourth, West doubled to left center, scoring two runs and extending WVU’s lead to 7-4.
The Mountaineers scored two runs on an error in the fifth to take a 9-4 lead. However, Houston came barreling back in the bottom of the inning when Malachi Lott hit a three-run home run off the top of the right field wall, pulling the Cougars within 9-7.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Chase Meyer walked the bases loaded before walking Climie and cutting Houston’s deficit to just one run. Carson Estridge came in and got the final out.
With the win, WVU remains in first place in the Big 12 standings.
The Mountaineers will go for the sweep on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (ET).
Trailing 9-8 and with two outs, Jake Tatom tried to score from second on Tre Broussard’s infield single but Hussey came off the bag to get the ball and immediately gunned down Tatum at home to end the inning.
Photo Credit: Shanna Rose
