MORGANTOWN — West Virginia came out on the wrong end of a pitchers’ duel Saturday, as Texas Tech held the 17th-ranked Mountaineers to just seven hits in a 4-1 victory inside Rip Griffin Park in Lubbock, Texas.
The three-game series is now tied with Sunday’s 2 p.m. game serving as the clincher.
It was somewhat an unexpected duel between WVU’s Maxx Yehl and Texas Tech’s Jackson Burns, considering the Red Raiders (20-14, 6-8 Big 12) came into the series with the worst team ERA in the Big 12 at 7.30, while Yehl was the Big 12’s leader with a 2.30 ERA.
Still, both teams went through six innings of scoreless baseball with neither Burns or Yehl giving up an inch.
That changed in the seventh inning, after Texas Tech outfielder Jesse Rusinek singled through the left side and then stole second base. After Yehl struck out Robin Villeneuve, Tracer Lopez hit a blooper over the head of WVU shortstop Matt Ineich to give Texas Tech runners at the corners. Ryan Coleman drove in Rusinek for a 1-0 lead, but Lopez got caught in a rundown between second and third base and was tagged out. Yehl ended the inning by striking out Kyeler Thompson.
WVU (23-8, 9-5) answered in the eighth with Gavin Kelly’s fifth home run of the season, clearing the wall in left field after flying 388 feet.
It was the only run allowed by Burns, who left the game with a no decision after allowing just six hits and striking out five.
Yehl pitched into the eighth and ended up throwing 113 pitches, but the Red Raiders finally got to him. Linkin Garcia hit a one-out single and Logan Hughes followed with a single up the middle.
That was it for Yehl, who was relieved by Reese Bassinger. Yehl (5-1) took his first loss of the season after going 7 1/3 innings, while allowing a season-high 10 hits. He struck out eight and walked just one.
Matt Quintanar then singled to left field off Bassinger, which scored the game-winner by Garcia. Quintanar advanced to second on a throwing error and Hughes stood at third base.
Rusinek then came up with an RBI single just past WVU second baseman Matt Robaugh that scored Hughes for a 3-1 lead.
That was it for Bassinger, who was relieved by Ian Korn. Texas Tech’s final run saw Quintanar score on Lopez’s ground ball to second base. Korn got Coleman to fly out to right field to end the inning.
In the ninth, Armani Guzman nailed a one-out double to right field, but Matthew Graveline grounded out to second and pinch hitter Zahir Barjam struck out to end the game.
Garcia finished with three hits for Texas Tech and Resinek, Hughes and Lopez each added two.
Texas Tech reliever Logan Bevis (1-1) picked up the win. He went 1 1/3 innings, allowed one hit and no runs.
Kelly went 2 for 4 for the Mountaineers to raise his batting average up to .419 on the season. Sean Smith added two hits, including a double in the sixth inning.
With the loss, WVU remained in third place in the Big 12 standings, behind both Kansas and No. 12 UCF.
