The No. 17 West Virginia University baseball team defeated Texas Tech, 10-2, on April 12 to clinch a road series victory at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. The Mountaineers improved their record to 24-8 overall and 10-5 in the Big 12 Conference, while the Red Raiders dropped to 20-15 and 6-9 in league play.
This win is significant as it strengthens West Virginia’s position in the conference standings and highlights their strong performance against one of the nation’s top offenses.
Sophomore Chansen Cole pitched eight innings for his longest outing as a Mountaineer, allowing just two runs with four strikeouts and seven hits. Graduate student Sean Smith contributed offensively by going four-for-five with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Six other players recorded two hits each as West Virginia matched its season high with eighteen hits during the game.
Senior Brock Wills drove in three runs, while senior Matthew Graveline had two runs batted in and achieved his two-hundredth career hit. Senior Paul Schoenfeld started the scoring with an RBI triple, followed by a single from Smith that brought him home. Defensive plays from sophomore shortstop Matt Ineich and junior third baseman Tyrus Hall helped maintain an early lead before West Virginia added three runs in the eighth inning and four more in the ninth.
Cole attempted to complete the game but was relieved after allowing base runners at the start of the ninth inning. Graduate student Ian Korn finished out the contest by retiring both batters he faced.
West Virginia is scheduled to play Penn State next on Wednesday, April 15 at Meritus Park in Hagerstown, Maryland.
