by: Shanna Rose
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- Jack Kartsonas had another stellar outing as the 16th-ranked West Virginia University baseball team shut out Texas Tech 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
The right-hander picked up his sixth win of the season, as he held the Red Raiders to just five hits through seven scoreless innings. Kartsonas (6-1) struck out seven and didn’t issue any walks.
Carson Estridge pitched the final two scoreless innings, giving up two hits.
Kyle West and Spencer Barnett each had two hits for the Mountaineers (39-7, 17-4 Big 12).
Robin Villeneuve had two hits for the Red Raiders (16-27, 11-12).
Through three innings WVU had just two hits before the bats found some pop.
With two outs and two runners on Brodie Kresser hit a two-run double to give WVU a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Then Grant Hussey doubled to right center, scoring Kresser and making it a 3-0 contest.
In the bottom of the seventh, West hit a two-run home run to extend the Mountaineers lead to 5-0.
Kartsonas’ day ended after the seventh inning but Estridge came on and finished Texas Tech off. He retired the side in the eighth.
Estridge ran into some trouble in the ninth with one out. He gave up a base hit to Villeneuve and the next batter reached on a fielder’s choice. Kyle Thompson singled to right field, putting runners on first and second, but Estridge struck out Davis Rivers to end the game.
With the win, WVU claimed their sixth consecutive series win and stays on top of the Big 12 standings with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
This was the third time this season that the Mountaineers have shut out their opponent.
WVU travels 70 miles up the interstate to take on rival Pitt on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Backyard Brawl.
Photo Credit: Shanna Rose
