WVU (23-7, 9-4 Big 12) took the first game of the series against Texas Tech with a big ninth inning. The Mountaineers led in the eighth inning, but allowed a game-tying run in the bottom of the inning. They responded with a six-run top of the ninth, which propelled them to victory. WVU took the back-and-forth game on the road, 12-8. Read more: Mountaineers save the best for last against Texas Tech.
Early innings
Matt Ineich reached on a fielding error to start the game. The error was by starting pitcher Lukas Pirko and was a sign of things to come for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders turned a double play to end the inning after allowing two baserunners, limiting the damage.
Dawson Montesa started for WVU and got two quick outs, including one strikeout. Connor Shouse reached on a fielding error by Ineich. He was stranded on first base after Logan Hughes hit a bloop flyout, putout by second baseman Gavin Kelly.
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WVU got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Brock Wills singled with two outs, and Ben Lumsden followed it with a walk. Tyrus Hall drove in one run with a single, and Lumsden advanced to third base. Hall stole second base, and Lumsden scored on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Coleman. Coleman overthrew the catcher after a pitch-out and threw down to second in an attempt to nab the runner at home. The inning ended on an Ineich groundout, but WVU led 2-0.
Taking what they give us!
T2 | Mountaineers 2, Red Raiders 0 pic.twitter.com/pexm8CkN9f
— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 11, 2026
Texas Tech did not take long to respond. Matt Quintanar singled up the middle with two outs. Tracer Lopez doubled to left center, and Quintanar advanced to third base. Coleman singled to center, which allowed one run to score, but center fielder Paul Schoenfeld gunned down Lopez at the plate to end the inning.
Kelly and Schoenfeld started the third inning with singles. Sean Smith reached on a fielder’s choice, and Kelly scored from second base after a throwing error by Coleman as he attempted to turn two. Pirko got the final two outs, but WVU led 3-1. Montesa allowed a double to start the bottom of the third, but got three consecutive outs to finish the inning.
Middle Innings
The fourth inning was a quiet one. Pirko allowed a two-out single to Hall, but he was caught stealing second base during Ineich’s at-bat. Montesa allowed a lead-off single to Linkin Garcia, but got the next three batters.
Pirko continued into the fifth inning, and he made it quick. He secured a 1-2-3 inning on 10 pitches. Montesa struggled in the bottom of the inning, and the Red Raiders made their comeback. He allowed back-to-back singles after recording one out. Both baserunners scored after a Shouse double, which tied the game at three.
Montesa walked Hughes, and Garcia loaded the bases with a single. Jesse Rusinek doubled down the left field line and brought two runners across the plate. Montesa got the final two outs of the fifth inning, but not before the damage was done. Texas Tech led 5-3 heading into the sixth inning.
Jonny Lowe replaced Pirko to start the inning. Lowe allowed a two-out single to Matthew Graveline, but allowed zero runs. Head coach Steve Sabins and WVU trusted Montesa again at the bottom of the inning. He struck out the first batter, but allowed a two-out walk. That prompted a mound visit, but he got the third out.
Three runs flip script
Lumsden led off the seventh with a walk against Lowe. Hall followed with a single. Ineich grounded into a double play, and Lumsden advanced to third base. Kelly singled to right field to bring Lumsden across the plate. Schoenfeld singled to center field, and Kelly moved to second base. Lowe was visited at the mound following that at-bat. Smith came up clutch and doubled to right field. Schoenfeld scored from first due to moving on contact with two outs.
Logan Addison replaced Lowe after the double and got out of the inning by striking out Armani Guzman. WVU took a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the inning. Montesa came back out for the first two outs of the bottom of the inning. He allowed a single to Garcia, but got the third out after a mound visit.
Eighth inning
The Mountaineers had some chances at the top of the eighth, but could not capitalize. Brock Wills singled with one out and advanced to second base after a throwing error on a pick-off attempt. A pitch hit Hall with two outs, but Addison struck out Ineich to avoid any damage.
Reese Bassinger replaced Montesa in the eighth inning. He allowed a single to Lopez, who was advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Bassinger walked Kyeler Thompson and was taken out of the game for David Perez. Perez walked Ferraro on four pitches to load the bases. A run scored after Shouse grounded out to first base, who stepped on the bag but did not get another out. Perez got the third out, but the Red Raiders tied it at six.
Ninth-inning triumph
Heeryun Han replaced Addison for the Red Raiders and hit Kelly to start his night. He gave up a single to Schoenfeld, but Kelly was thrown out at second by the center fielder. Han walked two batters to load the bases. That set up a Graveline single to right center, which scored two and moved Guzman to third base. Han ended his night by walking Wills to load the bases.
Jorden Espinoza struck out Lumsden for the second out of the inning. He walked in Guzman from third, however, and then Ineich doubled down the left field line. That brought in all three baserunners before Kelly made the final out of the inning. WVU led 12-6 with three Texas Tech outs remaining.
Perez got one out before his night ended, but he started shaky in the ninth. He gave up a single and allowed Rusinek to advance to second on a passed ball. Lopez hit a one-out double to score a run. Perez walked Davis Rivers, who pinch-hit for Coleman. Carson Estridge replaced him following the batter.
Estridge got the second out on a fielder’s choice, which got the out at second base. Thompson stole second to put two men in scoring position for the Red Raiders, with two outs, down 12-7. Ferraro singled through the left side, but only Lopez scored from third base. The game ended on a pick-off to third base by Estridge, which caught Thompson off guard. WVU won the game 12-8, and David Perez got the victory after starting the ninth inning.
Top performers
- M. Graveline (WVU): 2-for-5, 2 RBI, R
- T. Hall (WVU): 3-for-3, RBI, R, BB, SB
- D. Montesa (WVU): 7.0 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
What’s next?
The Mountaineers continue for the final two games in Lubbock, Texas. The next game is at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. The third game is at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
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