Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
LUBBOCK, Texas -With late inning heroics, No. 17 West Virginia downed Texas Tech 12-8 on Friday night at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
Tyrus Hall went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Matt Ineich knocked in three runs for the Mountaineers (23-7, 9-4 Big 12). Paul Schoenfeld finished with three hits and Sean Smith and Matthew Graveline each drove in a pair of runs.
David Perez (2-1) earned the win while Dawson Montesa, who started the game, got a no-decision. The junior starting pitcher allowed five runs on five hits against one of the top offenses in the country while striking out five.
Heeryun Han (0-2) suffered the loss for the Red Raiders (19-14, 5-8).
The Mountaineers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, but Texas Tech responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to pull within 2-1.
A throwing error by Ryan Coleman extended WVU’s lead to 3-1.
Montesa was cruising along until the fifth inning, when he gave up back-to-back base hits before Connor Shouse hit a two-run double to tie the game. Montesa walked the next batter before allowing a base hit to load the bases. Jesse Rusinek then doubled down the left field line and gave the Red Raiders a 5-3 edge.
In the seventh, Gavin Kelly’s base hit plated Ben Lumsden before Smith hit a two-run double to give the Mountaineers a 6-5 advantage.
Texas Tech tied the game in the eighth before WVU erupted with a six-run ninth. With the bases loaded, Graveline broke the tie with a two-run double. Brock Wills walked to load the bases again before Hall drew a walk. Ineich cleared the bases with a double down the left field line.
The Red Raiders scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the game ended when Carson Estridge picked off Kyeler Thompson at third base.
Game two is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET and Maxx Yehl gets the nod for the Mountaineers.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
