Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After falling behind early, No. 15 West Virginia’s late push came up short in a 10-7 loss to Houston on Friday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Matt Ineich had three hits and two RBI for the Mountaineers (25-9, 10-6 Big 12). Tyrus Hall hit his second home run of the year.
Dawson Montesa (3-5) suffered the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) through 4.1 innings. Kendall Hoffman (2-4) picked up the win for the Cougars (17-19, 4-12).
Houston scored four runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Ineich’s RBI single cut the deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the frame.
The Cougars tacked on a run in the fifth and three additional in the seventh to take an 8-1 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, WVU made it an 8-5 contest. Hall led off with a solo home run and with two outs and two on, Ineich drove in a run with a base hit to left-center. Paul Schoenfeld then walked with the bases loaded and Sean Smith reached on a catcher’s interference to force in a run.
Houston tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth with a two-run home run by Blake Fields. Smith’s two-run single in the ninth pulled the Mountaineers within 10-7, but the rally stopped there.
Game two of the series has been moved up to 11 a.m ET on Saturday.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
