Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
WACO, Texas – West Virginia saw an early lead slip away as the Mountaineers fell 7-6 to Baylor in their Big 12 opener on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark.
Sean Smith led WVU (11-4) with three hits and a home run. Matt Ineich hit his second long ball of the season and reached base four times.
Dawson Montesa started for the Mountaineers and surrendered three runs. Reese Bassinger suffered the loss after giving up three runs in one inning, but Mac Stiffler was the bright spot of the bullpen, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
The Bears (11-6) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning but WVU would tie it in the third.
In the fourth, the Mountaineers took the lead when Armani Guzman’s sacrifice bunt made it 2-1. Tyrus Hall’s sacrifice plated Smith before Gavin Kelly’s RBI single to center field made it 4-1.
However, Baylor erupted for a five run bottom of the frame to regain the lead. Montesa walked the first two batters before being replaced by Bassinger. The Bears recorded four straight base hits, leading to four runs before Tyce Armstrong’s sacrifice fly made it 6-4.
Smith hit a solo home run in the sixth to cut the deficit back to two. Ineich’s solo shot made it a 7-6 contest in the ninth, but WVU’s rally ended there.
The Mountaineers will look to bounce back on Saturday with first pitch from Baylor Ballpark set for 3 p.m. ET.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
