Late Comeback Falls Short in Big 12 Championship Opener - West Virginia University Athletics - WVU Athletics

ARLINGTON, Texas – The West Virginia University baseball team opened play at the 2022 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship with a 6-4 loss to No. 18 Oklahoma on Wednesday night at Globe Life Field.

The sixth-seeded Mountaineers (33-21) trailed by six early but scored the final four runs of the ballgame, including three in in the ninth inning. However, the comeback bid fell short in the squad's postseason opener.

Junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Watters took the loss on the mound, while Oklahoma's Carter Campbell was credited with the win.

"When we get good starting pitching, we normally win, but if we don't, then playing from behind is pretty tough," WVU coach Randy Mazey said. "To get down by five in the second inning just took our offense away, but we pitched great out of the bullpen."

After freshman infielder Grant Hussey saved a run with an inning-ending, diving stop at first base in the first, the third-seeded Sooners (34-20) struck for five runs to take 5-0 lead in the second. A bloop single plated OU's first run, before a grand slam stretched the early advantage.

From there, Oklahoma added on with a run in the fourth to make it 6-0.

Watters pitched into the third inning, allowing five runs on six hits with three strikeouts and five walks. Following his exit, sophomore right-hander Carlson Reed provided quality work out of the bullpen. The Marietta, Georgia, native finished with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings of action while allowing just one run on three hits with four walks.

In need of a spark, the Mountaineers tallied their first run on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth but stranded a runner on third. Then, the squad put together a three-run ninth, thanks to a pair of home runs. First, Hussey smashed a solo shot to right field for his team-leading 11th big fly of the year, before freshman infielder JJ Wetherholt hit a two-run homer to draw West Virginia within two of the lead.

However, the late rally ended there as a strikeout ended the game.

Despite the loss, WVU out-hit OU, 10-9, on Wednesday. Four Mountaineers – senior outfielder Austin Davis, Wetherholt, sophomore catcher McGwire Holbrook and Hussey – all had two hits on the night.

Along with Reed, senior right-hander Zach Ottinger pitched the final 1.2 innings out of the bullpen. The two relievers combined to yield just one run in the last six innings of the game.

Up next, the Mountaineers return to Big 12 Championship play on Thursday afternoon against No. 7-seed Kansas State (27-28) in an elimination game. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. ET, at Globe Life Field.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ben Hampton (8-4, 4.50 ERA) is set to get the start for West Virginia on Thursday, while the Wildcats will counter with right-hander Blake Adams (5-6, 5.04 ERA). Of note, the Mountaineers swept K-State to close the regular season from May 19-21, at Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark in Morgantown.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Print Friendly Version

Adblock test (Why?)