WVU shut out Texas Tech in the final game of the series. They won two out of three against the Red Raiders and moved to 18-4 in the Big 12. WVU owns a record of 39-7 this season and 17-4 at home after clinching another conference series. The Backyard Brawl continues on Tuesday as WVU travels to Pittsburgh to play the Panthers for the second time this season. The game starts at 6 p.m. at Charles L. Cost Field. Read more: Strong pitching lifts WVU past Texas Tech.
Recap: Strong Pitching Lifts WVU Past Texas Tech
Jack Kartsonas began the day on the mound for the Mountaineers and was dominant in the final game of the series. The game started slowly, as neither team scored until the fourth inning. Kartsonas was dealing on the mound, and his defense backed him up when the ball was put in play. Zane Petty started for the Red Raiders and pitched admirably but did not get any run support.
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Sam White got things rolling in the bottom of the fourth with a single through the left side. Logan Sauve followed it with a walk to put men on first and second. Brodie Kresser drove them in with a two-out double off the wall in left field. Grant Hussey followed suit and recorded an RBI double to right center. WVU took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning.
WVU continued to pile on runs in the bottom of the seventh. Gavin Kelly doubled down the left field line and advanced to third in a few pitches after a failed pick-off attempt went into center. It did not matter much as Kyle West hit a two-run home run to right center. It was his 50th career home run, and it was a blast. The ball traveled 421 feet and would have been out to any part of the park. Those were the final runs of the game. Carson Estridge replaced Kartsonas on the mound and pitched the final two innings to complete the shutout.
Key Takeaways
WVU came to play on Sunday. Kartsonas was dominant on the bump for the Mountaineers. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed five hits, and recorded seven strikeouts. Kartsonas did not walk a batter but hit one. He threw 95 pitches and made quick work of the Red Raiders’ lineup in every inning. Estridge struggled with his command in the final two innings but still got the job done. He allowed two hits, walked one batter, and struck out three to complete the shutout. WVU did not record an error in the game and made plays on the field all day. Texas Tech left nine men on base and did not provide timely hitting.
Kyle West’s bat proved key batting in the second slot. He got the first hit of the game and recorded a monster home run to seal the deal. They also had timely hits as their three-run fourth inning was achieved with two outs. Kresser’s and Hussey’s doubles in that inning were key in separating themselves from the Red Raiders in a tightly contested game until that point. They recorded 10 hits as a team and left seven on base. The difference in the game was the pitching, but the offense gave them much-needed run support. WVU’s offense stepped up for their pitching staff, and Texas Tech’s did not.
